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SOME THINGS ABOUT 

COVENTRY -BENTON 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



BY 
WILLIAM F. WHITCHER. 



NEWS PRINT, 

WOODSVILLE, N. H. 

1905. 



.£38 



Only 200 Copies Printed. 

No 






PREFACE. 

This volume does not purport to be a complet e and ex- 
haustive history of the town of Coventry- Ben ton. It is 
simply a collection of some things connected with its history. 
It is a small town, one of the smallest in the state. During 
all its life it has been one of the typical back-towns, but 
there are many now living in other towns and other states 
who cherish a strong love tor it as the place of their birth 
and early life. The collection and weaving together of the 
facts and traditions contained in this volume has been a 
source of recreation to the author, and if the sons and daugh- 
ters of the town find a source of pleasure in the perusal of 
its pages he will be amply repaid for time and labor spent. 
Only two hundred copies of the book have been printed. 
The work has been done at odd times in a village printing 
establishment, and the fact that the printer has kept pace 
with the writer, distributing his type whenever eight or six- 
teen pages were printed, may be made the excuse for the 
page and more of errata at the end of the volume, and for 
typographical errors which have passed the proofreader un- 
noticed. The volume makes no pretension to literary style 
or finish, but the author believes it contains much valuable 
historical material which is worthy of preservation. He of- 
fers the book, without apology, for what it is, not a town 
history, but "Some Things about Coventry-Benton, N. H. 

Woodsville, i\T. H., September, 1905. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

I. The Proprietary 1-15 

II. The First Settlement .... 16-34 

III. Later Comers and Growth . . . 35-65 

IV. Coming and Going 66-113 

V. The Benton of Recent Years . . 114-123 

VI. Religious and Social Life . . . 124-142 

VII. Town Meetings and Politics . . 143-202 

VIII. The Schools 203-209 

IX. The Militia and Soldiers . . . 210-218 

X. The Cemeteries 219-236 

XI. Births, Marriages and Deaths . . 237-276 

XII. A Future Summer Resort . . . 277-281 

XIII. Some More Things 282-290 

Errata 291-292 

Index 294-213 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



^ Surveyor's Plan of Town Frontspiece 

• Earliest Plan of Town . . . Facing Page 10 



' William Whitcher . 
/ Peter Howe .... 
f Darius K. Davis . . 
' Edward F. Mann . . 
v George W. Mann . . 
/ Amos Whitcher . . 
7 Charles H. Whitcher 
v' Winthrop C. Whitcher 
» James E. Whitcher . 
J Ira G. Howe ... 
•J Ira Whitcher . . . 
v William F. Whitcher 

> Chase Whitcher . . 
J Daniel Whitcher . . 

> Prescott Parker . . 
- David Whitcher . . 



26 
28 
50 
58 
60 
62 
62 
62 
62 
72 
74 
78 
84 
90 
94 
94 



VI 



Ezra B. Mann .< 94 

Geo. Henry Mann .* g 4 

* James H. Keyser »» 10 g 

■i William D. Veazey « 114 

< William W. Eastman .... «« 116 

J Lebina H. Parker « 

1 William Kendall «» 

* Meeting House *< 

v Rev. George W. Cogswell . . 

* WlNTHROP G. TORSEY .... 

J "The Hollow," Town Hall, Store 

and Post Office .... *« 133 

Gilbert P. Wright « 174 

Bartlett Marston »* 17 4 

i Silas M. Welch << i 74 

Charles C. Tyler « 

J Caleb Wells . . << 



. William T. Torsey . 

CHARLE8 B. KEYSER . 

George H. Clark 
Orman L. Mann . . 
Rev. George E. Brown 



118 
122 
130 
130 
130 



174 

180 



James Page << iqq 



180 
180 
190 
190 
190 



' Charles A. Veazey .... 

1/ Moses B. Mann 

s Paul M. Howe 

•' Norman J. Page 

V A. Elmore Tyler .... 

J Daniel M. Howe 

- Pardon W. Allen .... 
' Carriage Road and Summit of 

Moosilauke 

i Parker House 

* Tip Top House 



190 
194 
194 
194 
194 
214 
214 

278 
280 
280 



Some Things About 
Coventry — Benton, N. H. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE PROPRIETARY. 

In the early part of the decade between 1760 and 1770, 
His Excellency, Benning Went worth, Esquire, Governor 
and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New Hamp- 
shire, George the Third, By the Grace of God, of Great 
Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, 
etc., would have been an exceedingly busy official had he 
given personal attention and superintendence to his official 
acts. During these years he granted charters to some scores 
of townships, lying in what is now the northern part of the 
state of New Hampshire, and the north-eastern part of Ver- 
mont, opening the way for the settlement of what was an 
unknown country until the close ot the so-called French and 
Indian wars, a decade before. The charter of Haverhill was 
granted May 18, 1763, and its settlement began immediate- 
ly. The township of Warren was granted a little later, 
July 14, 1763, and this was followed by the issue of a char- 
ter to the township of Peeling, now Woodstock, September 
24, in the same year. Rumney had been chartered in 1761, 
as had also the towns of Orford and Lyme, to the south of 
Haverhill, and Bath and Lyman to the north. The charters 
granted had taken in the territory in the Connecticut and 



SOME THINGS ABOUT 



Baker's river valleys, of which some knowledge had been 
gained bv soldiers participating in the wars of the decade 
before, and by hunters, trappers and an exploring expedition 
or two. After these grants had been made in 1763, 
Governor Wentworth's geographers made the discovery 
that there was an ungranted territory lying to the east 
of Haverhill, and to the west of Peeling (Woodstock) 
which had not been disposed of; and so, January 31, 
1764, he granted to Theophilus Fitch and sixty-four others, 
a new township by the good old English name of Cov- 
entry, which, by the terms of the charter, was "bounded 
and butted" as follows: "Beginning at the south-easterly 
corner bounds of the town of Haverhill, thence running 
south fifty-eight degrees east six miles and one-half mile, 
thence north twenty-four degrees east, seven miles and 
three-quarters of a mile, thence north fifty-five degrees west, 
about six miles to the north-westerly corner of Haverhill 
aforesaid, then south twenty-five degrees west by Haverhill 
aforesaid to the bounds begun at." 

The charter contained the usual provisions : Whenever 
the township should have fifty families resident and settled 
therein, it should have the liberty of holding two fairs annu- 
allv ; a market might also be opened and kept one or more 
days each week as might be thought most advantageous to 
the inhabitants ; the first meeting for the choice of 
town officers should "be held on the second Tuesday of 
March next" and the said meeting should be notified by 
Theophilus Fitch, Esq., who was appointed the moderator of 
the first meeting. There were also the usual charter con- 
ditions, viz. : 

"1st. That every grantee, his heirs or assigns, shall 
plant and cultivate five acres of land within the term of five 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 



years, for every fifty acres contained in his or their shares 
or proportion of land in said township, and to continue to 
improve and settle the same by additional cultivations on 
penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in the town- 
ship and of its reverting to us, our heirs and successors, to 
be, by us or them, re-granted to such of our subjects as shall 
effectually settle and cultivate the same. — 

"2nd. That all white and other pine trees within the 
said township fit for making our royal navy be carefully pre- 
served for that use and none to be cut or felled, until our 
special license for so doing first had and obtained, upon the 
penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such grantee, his 
heirs and assigns, to us, our heirs and successors, as well as 
being subject to the penalty of any acts of Parliament that 
now are, or hereafter shall be enacted. — 

"3rd. That before any division of the land be made to 
and among the grantees, a tract of land as near the center of 
the said township as the land will admit of, shall be reserved 
and run out for town lots, one of which shall be allowed to 
each grantee, of the contents of one acre. — 

"4th. Yielding and paying therefor, to us, our heirs and 
successors, for the space of ten years, to be completed from 
the date hereof, the rent of one ear of Indian corn only, on 
the twenty-fifth day of December, 1764. — 

"5th. Every proprietor, settler or inhabitant shall yield 
and pay unto us, our heirs and successors, yearly and even- 
year forever from and after the expiration of ten years from 
the aforesaid 25th day of December, namely, on the 25th day 
of December in the year of our Lord 1774, one shilling 
proclamation money for every hundred acres, he so owns or 
possesses, and so in proportion for a greater or less tract of 
said land, — which money shall be paid by the respective per- 



SOME THINGS ABOUT 



eons aforesaid, their heirs or assigns, in our Council Cham- 
ber in Portsmouth, or to such officer or officers as shall be 
appointed to receive the same, and this to be in lieu of all 
other rents and services whatsoever." 

The names of the sixty-five grantees were : 



Theophilus Fitch, Esq. 
Eliphalet Sealey 
David Stevens 
Amos Weed 
Benjamin Weed 
Peter Weed 
Hezekiah Weed 
Joseph Davenport 
Samuel Cressey 
Deodate Davenport 
Isaac Armsdale 
Ephraim Smith 
John Bettis 
Peter Husted 
Jehiel Bowton 
David St. John 
Charles Smith 
Abraham Weed 
Nathaniel Loundsbury 
Obadiah Stevens 
Nathaniel Weed 
Eliphalet Sealey, Jr. 
Sylvanua Sealey 
William Fancher 
Nathaniel Hoit 
Theopholis Hanford 
Nathaniel Waterbury 



John Fancher 
James Banks 
Joshua Ambler 
Samuel Weed 
Isaac Weed 
Ebenezer Hoit 
Josiah Waterbury 
Gideon Leeds 
Obadiah Sealey 
Ebenezer Schofield 
Samuel Belding 
James Smith 
Jesse Smith 
Samuel Bowton 
Zebulon Husted 
Joseph Ambler 
John Bates 
Reuben Weed 
Abner Stevens 
Obadiah Stevens, Jr. 
Eleazer Bowton, Jr. 
Wix Sealey 
Silas Hoit 
Daniel Benedict 
Enos Weed 
Hezekiah Davenport 
James Schofield 



C . VESTRY— BESTOX. X. H. 



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John Fancher, 


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--- 


r MarkH.Wentworth,Esq. 


7 - - .-■: A:"-: 


- 7 - Theodore Atkinson, Jr. . E 


1 


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' zz -. - : \ -.-.- 


te far the Church of England as bv law es- 


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<:z~. " r -'.:.-. 7: 


•: -.-."'.-. : :.:•-: 7 ■ :/-. _• . --7 -.- ; 


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>.:-.= ^; :.;-^:-::77-'::-;71: :. :7 - 


':.-. ~.-.-.-.~- -.■': :;r 'z 


imself fire hundred acres in the north-west 



corner of the town, which was to be accounted as two shares. 

77- : — z. ':zz.zz-.-\\\:-. -z\ ~ .7 ;. \z-.-z 7: — i- "7-. ---7-1 
for by making The Hon. John Temple. Theodore 

A'-:.-- i. Tz-.-.-l\7-. A'-zz-.z. 7: -- :\:y :: - - -: ?; -.-;-:.-r. 
and Mark H. Wentworth. Esq.. a relative, four of the 
sixty-fire individual grantees. 

The township thus granted was ample in territory, but it 
was not territory attractive to settlers. It contained Moos- 
ilanke. Sugar Loaf, Black. OwFs Head and Blueberry 
^:u::i::-. Zz-:- — --.-. . :~r:- iz . zz-.z-j-. : :-::- ;- 
next to Warren line, along the Oliverian. in what were 
afterwards called Coventry Meadows, at the foot of Sugar 
L.'-r. ill ::- M-r ::" B'.u^-^rrj n;;i:\;i :ri: 77'— 77 
line, and a strip of territory running along the north part of 
the town next to Tjandaff line, and a little way up the three 



SOME THINGS ABOUT 



streams afterwards called Whitcher Brook, Davis Brook 
and Tunnel Stream which were capable of settlement, but 
the remainder of the 24,000 more or less acres in the town- 
ship was mountain and nearly one-seventh of the entire 
township was inaccessible to the hardy surveyors of the 
latter part of the eighteenth century, and was never divided 
into lots, but remained for a century or more undivided non- 
resident lands, appearing in the investigation made in recent 
years only as shares of the original proprietors. - 

Warren, Haverhill and Landaff were quite early and 
quite rapidly settled, but the settling of Coventry through 
the one hundred and forty years of its history has been slow, 
and for the past fifty years has been at a standstill, — more, 
the settlements of earlier years are reverting again to forests. 

Just who the original grantees were, from what section or 
town they hailed, 'juet why Governor Wentworth gave The- 
ophilus Fitch, Esquire, the eleven Weeds, the Sealeys, 
Smiths, Stevens, Husteds, Davenports and Fanchers a town- 
ship does not appear, but so far as can be learned , they 
never went to Coventry, but sold their rights or shares in 
the township to others. 

It was not till just prior to the war of the Revolution that 
any settlements were made in the town, and these were few, 
and were all on the Coventry Meadows, so called, and near 
the Warren line, until the beginning of the 19th century 
when settlements were begun in the north part of the town. 

These settlers held their lands by titles somewhat preca- 
rious, as the grantees and their assigns and successors made 
few attempts to protect their interests and realize on their 
holdings until 1797, when they held the first meeting 
of which record exists at the inn of Amasa Scott in Haver- 
hill, April 12, in that year. It appears from the record 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 7 

of that meeting that the ownership of the shares in the 
township had by that time passed into hands other than 
those of the original grantees. The seventy-one shares, in- 
cluding the Governor's reservation, were represented as fol- 
lows : Nathaniel Peabody, by Nathaniel Webber as agent, 
34 rights or shares ; Obadiah Eastman, 4 ; Josiah Burnham, 
9 ; Jonathan Hale, by A. Nixon agent, 9 ; Reuben Page, 
3 ; John Weed, by Salmon Niles agent, 1 ; John W. 
Chandler, 7 ; Mark H. Wentworth, by Ben Porter atty., 2 ; 
Onesiphorous Flanders, 1, in all, seventy rights or shares. 

Hon. John Winthrop Chandler, of Peacham, Vt., was 
chosen moderator of this meeting and Obadiah Eastman, 
Esq., of Coventry, clerk. That proprietors had held pre- 
vious meetings somewhere appears from the fact that John 
W. Chandler, Maj. Moody Bedel and Obadiah Eastman, 
Esq. were made a committee to examine into the appropri- 
ations and expenditure of monies previously made, and 
to examine and settle all demands against the pro- 
prietary for services and expenditures. It was also 
voted that the monies advanced by Joseph Pearson 
for the redemption of the town, which had been sold for the 
county tax in 1795, be considered a just charge against the 
proprietary. Provision was made for roads, one from 
Haverhill through Coventry Meadows to Warren town line, 
a road which had been surveyed in 1796, and another called 
"The North and South road", to to be constructed from 
Warren town line to LandafF town line, a road which was 
surveyed by Maj. Caleb Willard in September, 1797. A 
tax of four dollars and fifty cents on each proprietor's right 
was levied for the purpose of building these roads, and the 
meeting was adjourned until Sept. 19, 1797. 

The proprietors held meetings with greater or less fre- 



SOME THINGS ABOUT 



quency until surveys had been made so far as practicable, 
the last meeting of which a record was made being held July 
4, 1818. 

Some of the most important votes passed at these various 
meetings were : 

Sept. 19, 1797. Voted that an account exhibited by 
Obadiah Eastman, Esq. for sundry services done in behalf 
of said proprietors in the years 1788, 1789, 1790 and 1794, 
be allowed, amounting to thirteen pounds, sixteen shillings, 
£13, 16s. Voted likewise that another account be allowed 
to the aforesaid Eastman for labor on the road, and for other 
services done in the year 1796 amounting to thirteen pounds, 
twelve and nine pence, £13, 12s 9d. 

Sept. 20, 1797. Voted, that John W. Chandler and 
Obadiah Eastman Esquires and Artemas Nixon be a com- 
mittee to receive and examine claims to lands of all persons 
settled in said township, the rights said pitches have been 
made under, the time of pitching, settling and the im- 
provements made on each settlement, the claims and merits 
of each claimant, and that each claimant make out a return 
of all lands so claimed, by length of line and point of com- 
pass, commencing each with some known and established 
boundary and monument and file the same with the clerk of 
said proprietary on or before the second Tuesday of June 
next. 

Voted, that each person who has not pitched any land to 
his right or rights in said town have liberty to pitch one hun- 
dred and five acres to each right at any time previous to the 
last day of February next, and not after. Said pitches to be 
made under the direction of the committee before mentioned, 
and the persons who neglect to make their pitches as afore- 
said shall have one hundred and five acres of land drawn to 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 



each right, in lieu of the pitch above mentioned by such per- 
sons, and in such manner as shall be hereinafter mentioned. 

"Voted, that the return of a road leading from Warren to 
Landaff through the town of Coventry made and surveyed 
by Major Caleb Willard, dated the 11th day of September, 
A. D. 1797, be accepted by the meeting and be considered 
as a direction for the road committee in the expenditure of 
one-half the monies voted for making and repairing high- 
ways." 

June 14, 1798. At this meeting Obadiah Eastman, 
Henry Gerrish and John W. Chandler were chosen a com- 
mittee to lay out the town into one hundred acre lots. And it 
was voted, that the committee complete a survey of the first 
division of one hundred acre lots in said town already begun, 
and that they immediately afterwards go on and make a sec- 
ond division of hundred acre lots, and that they proceed to 
make such other and further divisions of the lands in said 
town into hundred acre lots, or into fifty acre lots, as in 
their discretion may be most beneficial to the proprietors, 
with the addition of five acres to each hundred acre lot, and 
two and a half acres to each fifty acre lot, for the purpose of 
highways. 

June 15, 1798. "Voted, that Samuel Mastin, Moses 
Noyes, Samuel Eaton, Barnabas Niles, Joseph Lund, Jehiel 
Niles, Onesiphorus Flanders, Ezekiel Chapman and Ephraim 
Lund and their assignees, heirs, etc., be quieted in the pos- 
session of the several lots of land as stated in the report of 
the committee appointed to receive and examine the claims 
of settlers." 

January 17, 1799. "Voted, that the account of Col. Hen- 
ry Gerrish, for surveying the town of Coventry in October, 
1798, be allowed, amounting to $30.65, and the account of 



10 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

John W. Chandler, amounting to $29.67, for the same ser- 
vice be also allowed." 

January 18, 1799. "Voted, that Alden Sprague, Jona. 
Hale, Esquires, and Stephen P. Webster be a committee to 
investigate and establish the boundarv line between Haver- 
hill and Coventry, also that Jonathan Hale be added to the 
committee to complete the survey of the town. 

"Voted, that Alden Sprague, John W. Chandler and Ste- 
phen P. Webster be a committee to petition the General 
Court for abatement of state taxes now existing against the 
town of Coventry. 

"Voted, thatObadiah Eastman be allowed $49.25 for ser- 
vices of himself and hands in lotting out the town of Coven- 
try, boarding the surveyors and hands, keeping their horses, 
procuring spirits, etc., as per bill." [At this meeting ad- 
ditional accounts were also allowed to Stephen P. Webster, 
Obadiah Eastman, Nathaniel Webber, Onesiphorus Flanders, 
Jonathan Hale, Reuben Page, Joseph Pearson, John W. 
Chandler and Artemas Nixon, amounting to $105.95 for 
services in surveying, warning the proprietary meeting, tav- 
ern expenses, etc.]. 

May 28, 1800. "Voted, that John W. Chandler, Jona. 
Hale and John W. Tillotson, Esquires, be a committee vest- 
ed with discretionary powers to lay a statement of facts be- 
fore the General Court at its next session relative to an en- 
croachment of the town of Warren upon the town of Coven- 
try, in consequence of the doings of a committee appointed 
by the General Court to determine the boundary lines be- 
tween the following towns, viz. Piermont, Orford, Went- 
worth and Warren, and request to know if it was the inten- 
tion of said Court that the boundary lines of said Coventry 
should be affected by the proceedings of said committee." 




Earliest plan of Coventry. Caleb Willard's Survey, 10 lots next to Haver- 
hill line, made July, 1786. Colonel Gerrish's Survey, the 110 lots in centre 
of town, made in 1798. John McDuffie's Survey, the lots on the east, 
enclosed in heavy lines, made in 175)9. The plan also outlines the various 
brooks and streams, and the north and south road through centre of town. 



CO VENTR Y— BE XT ON, N. H. 11 

[This committee doubtless attended to the duty assigned 
them, but it does not appear that they were able to reverse 
the decision of the committee above mentioned appointed by 
the General Court. The charter line between Warren and 
Coventry was south 58 degrees east, but Warren, by the de- 
cision of the General Court committee, overlapped the origi- 
nal charter line so that the new line between Warren and 
Coventry ran south 74 degrees and 30 minutes east, and this 
was never changed. Warren thus obtained several hundred 
acres from the originally chartered Coventry, much of which 
has since proved to be valuable timber land.] 

February 3, 1803. "Voted, that the plan of survey made 
by John McDuffie of certain lots of land lying in the town 
of Coventry, under the direction of Obadiah Eastman, Es- 
quire, be accepted. 

"Voted, that the plan of certain lots of land surveyed by 
Caleb Willard and known by the name of Willard's survey 
be accepted. 

"Voted, that James Masters, James Curtis, Robert Whit- 
tom, Samuel Marston, Moses Noyes, Onesiphorus Flanders, 
Samuel Eaton, Barnabas Niles, Joseph Lund, Ezekiel Chap- 
man, Ephraim Lund, Pelatiah Watson and Samuel Jack- 
son, their heirs and assigns be quieted and confirmed in the 
possession of the several tracts of land that have been here- 
tofore voted to them." 

At a meeting which had been called by the proprietors 
and held at the tavern of Dr. Amasa Scott in Haverhill Feb- 
ruary 29, 1804, Obadiah Eastman was chosen moderator 
and William Coolidge clerk. The following shares or rights 
were represented ; Moor Russel, 4 ; Simeon Eastman, 2 ; 
Obadiah Eastman, 4 ; Nathaniel Webber, 6 ; Stephen 
Couch, 1 ; John Montgomery, 1 : Jona. Hale, by his attor- 



12 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

ney, William Coolidge, 10 ; in all 30 shares. This compar- 
atively small number of shares represented, and the change 
in ownership from the date of the first meeting, heretofore 
mentioned, in 1797, is explained by the fact that, during the 
intervening seven years, most of the lands which the survey- 
ors had been able to reach had been divided into lots, each 
shareholder or proprietor obtaining his lots in fee ; the claims 
of first settlers, because of pitches made, had been settled and 
clouds on their titles removed ; and during the previous year, 
1803, a town government had been organized. The meet- 
ing, however, was an important one. It ratified, established 
and confirmed the first and second division of hundred acre 
lots, it authorized the laying out a road through the north 
part of the town embracing the road from Porter's ferry and 
the old court Louse in Haverhill and from Wells River to 
the road which was already travelled through the north-east 
part of Coventry to Portland, or in such other direction to- 
ward Peeling as might be judged most beneficial to the pub- 
lic. Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Hale and James East- 
man were made a committee to lay out the road. It was 
also voted to pay the amount of an execution which had 
been obtained against the proprietors in favor of Chase 
Whitcher of Warren. At an adjourned meeting, however, 
held May 2, 1805, it was unanimously resolved that the suit 
against Chase Whitcher for encroachment on the lands of 
the proprietors be revived and prosecuted. 

At another adjourned meeting, held December 20, 1805, 
two hundred and twenty-five acres of land were granted to 
William Coolidge upon condition that the said Coolidge 
within three years from the first day of January, 1806, 
"should build, erect and complete a good and sufficient 
grist-mill upon the Gulph Stream (afterwards called 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 13 

Whitcher Brook) running through lot numbered thirteen, 
in Gerrish's survey, and keep the same in good repair and 
procure, or give good attendance therein, during the term of 
ten years from the erection and completion of said mill, to 
the acceptance of the selectmen of the town of Coventry, 
aforesaid, for the time being." 

At a meeting held at the tavern of Nancy Hale, in Cov- 
entry, June 16, 1814, Thatcher Goddard and Onesiphorus 
Flanders were appointed a committee to make a division of 
the common land lying between Gerrish's, McDuffie's and 
Willard's surveys and Warren line, this land having been 
surveyed into lots of thirty-five acres each. A plan of this 
division was made, known as the third division, and was ac- 
cepted at an adjourned meeting held May 29, 1816, thus 
completing the surveys and divisions of land by the pro- 
prietors. 

The meetings subsequently held by the proprietors were 
chiefly for the purpose of settling up the affairs ot the pro- 
prietary. The last meeting of which record exists was held 
July 4, 1818, and at this meeting a tax of two dollars and 
fifty cents was levied on each share of the undivided lands 
for the purpose of paying the debts of the proprietary. The 
entire amount expended by the proprietors in protecting 
their rights in the township, in surveying and dividing into 
lots such of the territory as was surveyable, in paying the 
expenses of proprietors' meetings, through a term ot twenty 
years, in redeeming lands sold for taxes, in defending and 
prosecuting lawsuits and in surveying and constructing high- 
ways was a little upwards of $4,000. For this they had ob- 
tained in regularly numbered surveyed lots of land including 
grants and pitches by settlers and the Governor's reservation, 
some 22,000 acres, leaving about eight thousand acres undi- 



14 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

vided. This was in two tracts, a small one on the easterly 
side of Black Mountain, and a larger one, of from six thous- 
and to seven thousand acres, on the sides and summit of 
Moosilauke Mountain. This land was never divided into 
lots, but was held by various parties, as shares or rights in 
the names of the original proprietors, was taxed as non-resi- 
dent, until about 1889 or 1890, when all the shares had 
been acquired by Ira Whitcher, of Haverhill, a native of the 
town, who divided the territory into four tracts, numbered 
one, two, three and four, and later sold them as such tracts. 

The records of the meeting of the early proprietors show 
an earnest effort on their part to secure a settlement of 
the township, and to realize something from their rights. 
But the task of making a flourishing farming town out of 
Coventry was an impossible one, and the proprietors doubt- 
less expended nearly as much money in their attempts to 
make the township a valuable property as they ever secured 
in return. Only a few of those who were proprietors pre- 
vious to 1800 ever attempted to make a settlement in the 
town ; Jonathan Hale, Obadiah Eastman, and Samuel 
Marston. 

It was a non-resident proprietary, and absentee landlord- 
ism rarely pays, even under favorable conditions. 

Some of these non-resident proprietors, however, were 
greatly interested in the town, and merit more than a passing 
notice. John W. Chandler, of Peacham, Vt., was the son 
of Gen. John Chandler, a Revolutionary soldier, and was born 
in Newtown, Conn., in 1767. He removed to Peacham, Vt., 
with his father as one of the earliest settlers in that town. 
He was representative to the General Assembly in 1797, 
Judge of Probate from 1797-1800 and in 1806, 1808, 1809, 
1817-1821 ; Register of Probate in 1805 ; Councillor in 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 15 

1814-1815; Judge of the County Court in 1800-1806, 
1813-1817. Died in Peacham July 15, 1855. 

Reuben Page was a younger brother of John Page, of 
Haverhill. He was was born in Rindge, N. H., in 1753. 
He served in five campaigns in the Revolutionary war. 
Went to Corinth, Vt., in 1780 and settled in the north- 
east corner of the town. Part of the farm is in Newbury. 
He died August 3, 1843 and is buried in the "Grow bury- 
ing ground," in the southwest corner of Newbury, Vt. 

Stephen P. Webster, of Haverhill, was a son of Rev. 
Stephen Webster, of Haverhill, Mass., and Mary (Little). 
Graduated at Harvard in 1792. Married Mary Peabody of 
Atkinson. State Senator, 1803-1806. Councillor, 1839-40. 



16 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER II. 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT. 

Just when and where the first settlement was made in 
Coventry, and just who was the first settler does not appear. 
There were seieral settlements made prior to the year 1800, 
as appears from the record of settlers claims allowed by the 
proprietors at their meetings in 1798, 1799 and 1800. 

At a meeting of the proprietors January 18, 1799, Eph- 
raim, Rachel and Silas Lund were quieted in the possession 
of 76 acres of land on the Oliverian, which they claimed had 
been settled in 1777, and this same year Josiah Burnham, 
whose attempted survey of a part of the town had never been 
cccepted by the proprietors, was also quieted in the posses- 
sion of 82 acres, on his claim that he had settled and improv- 
ed the same in 1777. Pelatiah Watson had also settled ad- 
joining Burnham and the Lunds in 1778, and he obtained 
at this same meeting possession of 40 acres, as did Stephen 
Lund 82 acres in the same locality, which he claimed was 
settled in 1783. In the absence of other testimony it may 
be set down as tolerably certain that the Lunds, with Burn- 
ham and Watson, were the first settlers of the township, and 
that they made pitches and began to establish homes in the 
year 1777. Jonathan Hale had also begun a settlement in 
the immediate vicinity a little later, and had obtained large 
grants from the proprietary. In 1783 he purchased the 
Stephen Lund tract, in the same year the Ephraim, Silas and 
Rachael holdings ; in 1784 the Pelatiah Watson tract, and 
in 1787 he bought out Burnham's rights. This gave him a 
tract, much of whioh was improved, of upwards of a thous- 



C VENTR T—BEXTOX. N. H. 1 7 

and acres, which he com- I ""hatcher Goddard in 1' 

though he continued to live on it for manv vears as an inn- 
keeper, in a house on the Coventry Meadows road bet 
what is now known as the Hyde farm and the farm owned 
ininiings, and which was known at first as the 
Xiles farm. 

The antecedents of the Lun >n and Burnham are 

unknown, and where they went after leaving Coventr 
except in the case of Burnham, purely a matter of conject- 
ure. Burnham, who had some knowledge of surveying, 
came early to the town, pitched a lot for himself, and made 
surveys of other lots, but the surveys were not recognized as 
valid by the proprietors. The year 1805 found him in the 
jail at Haverhill, imprisoned for debt. Among those who 
occupied the same loom with him in the jail were Row 

man, Esq., and Capt. Joseph Starkweather, lik: 
imprisoned for debt. On the evening of December 17. 
I - ".a quarrel arose between them, the result of which 
was that both men were fatally stabbed by Burnham, his 
weapon being a large double edged knife which he had car- 
ried with him when he went to jail. Burnham was tried 
and convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung July 15. 
\ - S, but the date was subsequently changed to August 12. 
in order that he might "have further time to prepare for 
death." Hi; execution, which occurred at Haverhill, and 
which was the second occurring in Grafton county, was one 
of the great events of the time. It occurred on Powder 
House hill at Haverhill corner in the presence of 10,000 
people, who had gathered from near and far to witness the 
gruesome spectacle. Entertainment was rare in those early 
days, and the most was made of this one. Previous to the 
.tion a lengthy sermon, preceeded by music and prayer. 



18 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

was delivered to the assembled multitude by the Rev. David 
Sutherland of Bath, the victim about to be launched into 
eternity furnishing the preacher with his most vivid illus- 
trations. 

Barnabas Niles and his son Salmon settled on the Mead- 
ows, somewhere about 1778, just to the north of the settle- 
ments made by Ephraim Lund, Stephen Lund, Burnham 
and Watson, their farm being what is now known as the 
Hyde farm. To the south were Joseph Lund, James Ford, 
Jehiel Niles and Elisha Ford, on land now known as the 
James Crimmings and A. L. Warren farms, while a little 
later Robert Elliott established himself also on the Meadows 
near Haverhill line. 

Almost coincident with these first settlements on the 
Meadows were those made next to Warren line and near the 
base of Moosilauke, in the neighborhood afterwards known as 
High Street, by Obadiah Eastman, Samuel Marston, Moses 
Noyes and Samuel Jackson. Each of these settlements was 
made prior to 1790, those of Obadiah Eastman, Moses 
Noyes and Samuel Jackson being presumably the oldest. 
Obadiah Eastman, with his sons, established themselves on 
what was afterwards known as the Lathrop farm, on the 
North and South road, so called, about a mile from Warren 
line. This farm came to be one of the best in town, but 
has been abandoned for nearly fifty years, and the substan- 
tial stone walls once surrounding its fields and pastures now 
surround a vigorous forest growth. The buildings have 
long since vanished, but a recent visit to the spot where 
they once stood, shows an acre or two of land still free from 
forest growth, the cellar walls still intact, a few feet from 
the house cellar the smoke-house cellar (about five by six 
feet) with walls in nearly as good condition as when Squire 



COVENTRY— BENTON, 7T. H. 19 

Obadiah constructed them nearly a century ago, and the 
walls of the various yards about the barn and the out-build- 
ings still in good condition. 

The settlenjeDt lot of Moses Xoyes. and the two lots of 
Samuel Jackson, ^ere nearer Warren line than the Eastman 
homestead, and covered the territory now known as the 
Dickey farm, and the farm next north-west, toward Warren 
Summit. Samuel Marston settled the farm which later 
came into the possession of Jonathan Welch and his sons, 
Silas and Bartlett Welch. Marston came to Coventry from 
Chichester, and two of his sons, David and Jonathan, were 
among the first settlers of the north part of Coventry, about 
1804 or 1805, while another son, Joseph E., remained for a 
time on the old homestead. Samuel Jackson purchased his 
one hundred acre lot in 1783, of one Francis Porter, of Pe- 
terborough, and paid for it one hundred dollars. His pur- 
chase was made in good faith, and he began its settlement 
immediately, and had made for himself a comfortable home- 
stead, when, in 1800, he discovered his title was worthless, 
and he petitioned the proprietors for relief. They gave him 
a title to his land, in view of the improvements he had made, 
at a meeting held May 23, 1800. 

Aside from these settlers on the Meadows and at Hi^h 
Street, clearings had been made and homes established near 
Haverhill line at the foot of the mountain lying between 
Owls Head and Sugar Loaf. A survey of ten one hundred 
acre lots had been made there by Major Caleb Willard for 
Gen. John W. Chandler, of Peacham, by order of Samuel 
Atkinson, dated July 9, 1786. In the same year James 
Masters, James Curtis and Robert Whittom settled on lots 
numbered 6, 7, and 8. This section was subsequentlv 
known as the "Page Neighborhood," or "Page District." 



20 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

None of these settlers remained many years in town, and the 
work of settlement they had begun was carried on by others. 

Of these early settlers who established themselves in town 
prior to 1800, there were two or three who took an active 
part in the direction of affairs : Salmon Niles, born March 
11, 1768, the son of Barnabas Niles, came to town with his 
father, and took a leading part, both in his own right and 
as representing others, in the meetings of the proprietary, 
and also, after the town government was organized, filled 
various town offices with efficiency. Of his eight children 
born in town, none remained there, and, early in the centu- 
ry, his farm passed into other hands. 

Major Jonathan Hale, of whom mention has previously 
been made in the chapter on the proprietary, and whose farm 
on the Meadows was the largest in town, and whose house 
was one of the notable inns on the road between Haverhill 
and Plymouth, was born in Bradford, Mass., about 1740, 
the youngest son of Jonathan and Susanna (Tuttle) Hale. 
His family was a notable one. His eldest brother, Dr. John 
Hale, was a physician at Hollis, N. H., and was a surgeon in 
the Old French war and in the Revolutionary war. His 
sister, Abigail, married Col. William Prescott, of Peppcrell, 
Mass., who commanded the Massachusetts troops at Bun- 
ker Hill. The historian Prescott was their grandson. His 
brother, Dr. Samuel Hale, came to Newbury, Vt., as one of 
the earliest settlers, and his sister, Martha, was the wife of 
the Rev. Peter Powers, the first minister of Newbury and 
Haverhill. Jonathan Hale removed with his parents to Sut- 
ton, Mass., and later lived in Concord, N. H., from whence he 
came, to the Coos country at the time of the early settle- 
ment of Haverhill and Newbury. During the war of the 
Revolution he was a member of the Committee of Safety 



CO YEXTR Y— BE XT OX. X. H. 2 1 

of Haverhill. He was also 2nd Major in Col. Moray's 
twelfth New Hampshire regiment of foot, his commission 
dating from 1775. In 1781 he was sent by Gen. Jacob 
Bailey to West Point with dispatches for Washington. Mr. 
F. P. Wells, the historian of Xewbury, Vt., thinks that at 
that time he lived in that town. He continued to reside 
in Coventry after he had sold his farm to Thatcher Goddard, 
in 1800, but took no important part in town affairs after the 
organization of the town government. He died in 1837, at 
an advanced age, and if anything can be judged from the 
tax list, he must have been in somewhat reduced circumstan- 
ces. While in 1833 he was still assessed for 140 ac: 
land, with a horse and chaise and three cows, in 1836 his 
taxable property consisted of a horse valued at $10 and 
three cows valued at $50. Major Hale was, however, a man 
of superior education for his times, and his services to the 
proprietary of Coventry, and to tne early settlers, was of 
first importance. Little is known of his family, except that 
one daughter, Mary Hale, born Nov. 2'6, 1777, became the 
wife of William Coolidge. Esq.. one of the very earliest set- 
tlers at the north part of the town, and for the first yeai 
its organized history prominent in town affairs. He had 
three other daughters. Nancy. Susanna and Bitty. 

Obadiah Eastman was undoubtedly the leading man in 
town affairs, both in securing the division of the town into 

:n encouraging its settlement, in building roads, in 
protecting the rights of the proprietors against the encroach- 
ment of Haverhill and Warren, as well as of individuals, in 
securing the organization of a town government, and, in 
short, doing anything and everything to promote the inter- 

f the town to which he so thoroughly devoted his best 
endeavors. He was the first Justice of the Peace of the 



22 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

town, appointed in 1789, the moderator of the first town 
meeting, a member of the first board of selectmen, the first 
to represent the town in the General Court, when Coventry 
and Warren constituted a representative district, indeed, it is 
no disparagement to others to call him the first citizen of Cov- 
entry in its early days. He was born in Amesbury(?), 
Mass., May 7 , 1747. His wife, Mehitabel, was born 
April 27, in the same year, and they were married Nov. 
19, 1767. Mr. Eastman rendered good service in the war 
of the Revolution, and came to Coventry and established his 
home sometime before the close of the war. He reared a 
family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and 
he alone of the earliest seftlers has descendants still residing in 
town. He died Jan 10, 1812, and was buried in the High 
Street cemetery. A marble monument was in recent years 
erected over his grave, which has also been marked by the 
Sons of the American Revolution with the insignia of the 
Society. 

Some idea of the number of inhabitants of the town in 
1789 may be gathered from the petition sent to the General 
Court, Dec. 11, 1788, asking for the appointment of Mr. 
Eastman as a Justice of the Peace. The petition states that 
the signers are "a greater Dart of the inhabitants of Coven- 
try." and it is signed by Ephraim Lund, Jeremiah Brown, 
Robert Elliott, Daniel Doty, Onesiphorus Flanders, Josiah 
Burnham, Joseph Flanders, Timothy Lockwood, John 
Marston, Ebeneezer Bailey, Samuel Bowdy, Nathan Mead 
and Silas Lund. All these signers were residents on the 
Meadows, at High Street, or on the Willard survey tract, 
no settlement having been made in the north part of the town. 

During the war of the Revolution none of the settlers, so 
far as is known, entered the army, but the straggling and 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 23 

struggling settlers endeavored to do their patriotic duty as 
the following extract from Hammond's Town Papers shows : 

"To the Hon'ble Gen'l Court of the State of New Hamp- 
shire, now sitting at Portsmouth. 

"Humbly show that the inhabitants of Coventry in said 
State, that when called on, they hired one Jacob Whittier 
and one Edward Clark to serve as soldiers of said town in 
the Continental army during the war, and gave them a gen- 
erous bounty — that said town is so far removed from the 
seat of government, and not organized with town officers, 
never made a regular return of them, and that there is an 
extent now against them for delinquency, wherefore, your 
petitioners pray that they may be credited with said Whittier 
and Clark, and have an order to discharge said extent, and 
your petitioners as in duty shall ever pray, etc. 

Feb. 1786. "(Signed) Moses Dow, 

in behalf of said town." 

Proof of the services of Edward Clark was furnished, and 
the town was allowed therefor the sum of £60. 

The census of 1790 gives the population of the town as 80. 

There seems to have been no hurry on the part of pioneer 
settlers in locating in the north part of the town, which, 
however, subsequently became, and still remains, the most 
important section of the township. The forests were heavy, 
the soil was in the main rocky, the surface was hilly, the 
slope of the land was to the north, and the section was with- 
out roads, and miles removed from the settlements in the 
south and west part of the town, and from the center of 
North Country life at Haverhill. One of the charac- 
ters of the section during the early part of the last century, 
Ben Wiser, who lived by fishing, hunting and his wits, and 
many of whose stories and sayings are still remembered by 



24 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

the older people, once remarked of North Coventry : "When 
the Almighty made the world, he made a will. He gave 
over all the country east of Swift water to the fowls of the 
air and the wild beasts, and the Whitehers, Tylers, Howes 
and Marstons, who broke that will, will never prosper." 
There was. however, some degree of prosperity, but it was 
prosperity won by dint of the sternest sacrifice and the most 
unremitting toil. 

When the first town meeting was held, Dec. 30, 1801, 
for the purpose of organizing a town government, there were 
no residents on the north side of the town, but in the years 
intervening between 1804 and 1812 several settlements were 
made, the first being by William Coolidge, William Whitcher, 
David Marston and Jonathan Marston, followed soon after 
by Kimball Tyler, Jesse Tyler, Peter Howe, Daniel Howe, 
Daniel Xoyes and Abraham Norris, Of the thirty-three 
rateable polls found on the first recorded tax list in 1812, 
these eleven above mentioned had established for themselves 
homes in the north part of the town. 

William Coolidge, son-in-law of Jonathan Hale, 
settled in 1803 or 1804, and cleared his farm from the vir- 
gin forest, on land which is now a part of the farms of 
George Bailey and Birt Cox. He was the one settler of 
the town of liberal education, as the proprietors' records and 
the early town records, in elegant handwriting, orthography 
and punctuation, so rare in early town records, abundantly 
attest. He was clerk at many meetings of the proprietors, 
the first town clerk, and for several years one of the select- 
men. He built and operated the first grist-mill in town, 
and a few years since the circular mill stones were to be seen 
in the yard of the clapboard mill of the late William East- 
man. He was born January 28, 1777, and his wife, Mary 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 25 

Hale was born the same year. None of his four chil- 
dren, three sons and one daughter, remained in town, but 
removed with their parents in 1816 to Vermont. His mill 
privilege and the land lying to the east of it, being what is 
now known as the Annis farm, he purchased of John W. 
Chandler in 1804, and removed to it, erecting a house 
on the North and South road, near the meeting, house some 
three years later. This property he sold upon his removal 
from town to Moses Knight, of Landaff. It had become by 
that time considerably improved, the price obtained being 
$1325. He rendered the town great service, but during the 
hard times following the war of 1812 became financially in- 
volved and lost most of his property, acquired with so much 
self sacrifice and hardship. Mr. Coolidge was a native of 
Middlesex county, Mass., his immediate family residing, 
during the war of the Revolution, in Waltham. 

David Marston, son of Samuel Marston, settled and be- 
gan clearing his farm on a lot west of that of William Cool- 
idge about 1805, which, with the additions purchased in 
1808, is now the farm owned by Orman L. Mann. He 
was a man of shrewdness and tact, and was prominent in 
the early settlement of the north part of the town, filling all 
the various town offices with marked ability, serving for sev- 
eral years as town clerk, selectman, constable, collector of 
taxes and the then important office of ty thing man. David 
Marston was born Sept. 17, 1779, probably in Coventry, 
and married Susannah Bronson, of LandafF, (born July 29, 
1777) Jan. 23, 1803. Their two daughters, Mehitable 
and Lucy, and their son, William Coolidge, were born in 
Coventry. William Coolidge Marston, born July 28, 1815, 
removed to Haverhill, where he was a substantial citizen and 
prosperous farmer. Hie son, Moody C. Marston, and grand- 



26 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

son, John G. Marston, are well known citizens of Bath. 
William Whitcher was born in Warren, on the farm 
cleared and owned by his father, near Coventry line, 
the locality since known as Warren Summit, May 23, 
1783, the third of the eleven children of Chase and Hannah 
(Morrill) Whitcher. Chase Whitcher was one of the first 
settlers of Warren, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, 
and a direct descendant of Thomas Whittier, through Na- 
thaniel, Reuben and Joseph, who came from England in 
1638, and settled at first in Newbury, Mass., afterwards re- 
moving to Haverhill, Mass., where, in 1688, he built the 
house in which his most famous descendant, John Greenleaf 
Whittier, was born, which, until the death of the latter, has 
since been in the Whittier family, and is now owned by the 
Whittier Memorial Association. The name of the descend- 
ants of Thomas has been variously spelled — Whittier, Whit- 
cher and Whicher, the former being the most common form, 
though, until the beginning of the nineteenth century it was 
pronounced as of two syllables, "Whit-cher," Chase Whit- 
cher was more famous as a hunter and trapper than a farm- 
er, and his son William doubtless learned of the opening for 
a settlement in the north part of Coventry through the fa- 
ther's hunting expeditions. He married Feb. 25, 1807, 
Mary, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Collins) Noyes, 
of Landaff, born Nov. 5, 1787. To them were born be- 
tween the dates, Dec. 26, 1807, and Feb. 24, 1831, a fam- 
ily of sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters, all of 
whom, with a single exception, lived to marry and establish 
homes of their own. He purchased parts of lots numbered 
15, 13, 22 and 59, and built his first house on the spot 
where his son, Ira Whitcher, some forty years afterward es- 
tablished his home. He took an important part in town af- 




William Whitcher. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 27 

tairs, serving as tax collector, constable, selectman and 
agent for building highways, in short, filling for many years, 
all the various town offices. He was a pioneer in building 
highways, and did more than perhaps any one man to 
secure communication with the adjoining towns of Bath and 
Haverhill, which, in the early part of the century, had be- 
come leading business, political and social centres. After 
the death of Obadiah Eastman and the removal from town 
of William Coolidge, he was commissioned a Justice of the 
Peace, and for years was familiarly known as "the Squire," 
in later years, "the Old Squire." He was a man of deep 
piety, of old school puritanical principles and notions, and 
was for many years, in the early history of the town, in the 
habit of conducting religious meetings in barns, school 
houses, or private houses, in his capacity of regularly licen- 
sed local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, or aa 
assistant to the early circuit riders who now and then made 
appointments on their horseback pilgrimages through the 
backwoods towns. He was never elected a representative to 
the General Court, but he lived to see four of his sons, Mos- 
es, Ira, Chase and Daniel, serve successive terms in that 
body with honor to themselves and credit to the town. His 
life was one of great activity and he lived to see the town, 
for which he had done so much, a prosperous community, 
dying in March, 1859, in the 76th year of his age. 

Jonathan Marston followed his brother David, about 
1807, and settled on the North and South road, clearing 
the farm which remained his homestead until his death, and 
which is no v owned by Alfred Morrill. His sons, Orrin, 
Bartlett and Jonathan Hale, all established themselves in 
town, but later removed, J. Hale going to the northern part 
of New York, Orrin to Franconia and Bartlett to Woods- 



28 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

ville. Jonathan was married to Phebe, daughter of Peter 
How, who came to Landaff from Bradford in 1792. Of 
the children of Peter How, four besides Mrs. Marston came 
early to Coventry, Daniel How, who settled on the hill to 
the south of William Coolidge's, first settlement, Peter How 
Jr., who about 1808 settled a little to the west of William 
Whitcher, Nathaniel How, who came a little later, and 
Mary, wife of Major Samuel Mann, who came still later. 
These were all thrifty, substantial people, who added to the 
prosperity of the new settlement. Daniel How was twice 
married and had a large family. His youngest son, Daniel 
M. Howe, with several of his grandchildren and great- 
grand children, still reside in town. None of the descend- 
ants of Peter How, are now in town, and none of his chil- 
dren are now living. Nathaniel How died comparatively 
young. One son, Nathaniel Goodall Howe, is now (1904) 
living in Lafayette, Ind., where he has been a leading citi- 
zen and prosperous man of business, and is greatly interest- 
ed in his native town. 

The Tyler brothers, Kimball, Elisha and Jesse, came to 
Coventry from Lands ff about the year 1807. Elisha set- 
tled on lot No. 6, Gerrish survey, next to Landaff line, and 
the farm became in time a large one, noted for its fine or- 
chards and fruit trees, but has long since been abandoned, 
and is now almost entirely cohered with forest growth. Jes- 
se Tyler settled in the same neighborhood, while Kimball 
settled further toward the west on the farm just off the road 
leading from the meeting house to Tunnel stream, near its 
junction with the county road to Easton. He lived there 
until his death, and to him and his wife, Sally Streeter, 
were born a family of fourteen children, all of whom grew 
to manhood and womanhood, and several of whom remained 




Peter Howe. 



CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, X. H. 29 

in town. Several of his grandchildren are at the present 
time residents of Benton and are prominently identified with 
its interests. Kimball Tyler was born Sept 17, 1783. His 
wife, Sally Streeter, was born Feb. 28, 1784. They were 
married in LandafF, Apr. 15, 1805, and soon afterwards re- 
moved to Coventry. 

Abraham Norris came to Coventry from Bath in 1809, 
and settled on the corner lot adjoining Bath and Haverhill. 
The farm is now owned by Lebina H. Parker. Two of his 
sons, David Marston Norris and James Norris, and one 
daughter, Martha Norris, were lifelong residents of the town. 
Daniel Noyes, a brother of the wife of William Whitcher, 
came from LandafF to Coventry about the same time, but 
remained only a few years, when he returned to Landaff. 

In the year 1812 the different sections of the town had 
been settled, and there were 33 ratable polls, twelve of 
whom were in the north part ot the town, while the other 
twenty-one had their homes on "the Meadows," at "High 
Street" and in the "Page District." But the settlement of 
the town had been begun. The town was yet a wilderness, 
with clearings here and there, which were the beginnings of 
the farms of the next generation. The Jonathan Hale 
farm comprised more than a thousand acres, and the inven- 
tory of 1812 showed that in this tract there were 20 acres of 
arable land, 20 acres of mowing land, and 30 acres of pas- 
turage. Robert Elliott had five acres of arable land, four 
acres of mowing, and ten acres of pasturage. The Obadiah 
Eastman farm had four acres of arable land, 24 acres of 
mowing, and 32 acres of pasturage. On the north side of 
the town William Coolidge had ten acres each of mowing: 
and pasture. David Marston six acres each, Jonathan Mar- 
ston ten acres each, Elijah Wilson five acres each, Jesse 



30 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Tyler ten acres each, Daniel How two acres each, William 
Whitcher five acres each, and Peter How, Jr., five acres of 
mowing and three acres of pasturage. At "High Street" 
Samuel and Robert Jackson had three acres of arable land, 
11 of mowing, and 15 of pasture, and on "the Meadows" 
James and Elisha Ford had one acre of arable, 11 of mow- 
ing and eight of pasture. The other settlements were only 
small clearings. In the entire township there were barely 
three hundred acres redeemed from the wilderness. The 
roads from the north of the town were little more than bri- 
dle paths, and except that through "the Meadows," were 
hardly worthy of the name of roads. That through the 
"North and South Woods" had been bushed out and ox- 
carts could possibly be driven over it during the summer, 
and horses hitched to sleds could make their way during the 
winter, but these answered the purpose, since there were no 
chaises or carriages in town. The settlers had little to sell. 
They made maple sugar, and potash from the abundant 
wood ashes resulting from the land clearings. They raised 
some herds grass and clover, from which they threshed and 
winnowed out seed for sale, but exports to the towns of Ha- 
verhill and Bath were few, and imports were less, since a 
little money must be obtained in some way with which to 
pay taxes. The dwellings were, for the most part, especial- 
ly in North Coventry, built of logs and were small and prim- 
itive structures ; the furniture was of the simplest, and the 
problem was to secure enough from the soil in the way of 
food upon which to obtain a bare subsistence. Clothing was 
home made from flax or wool, and each of the Drimitive 
homes of the town obtained by dint of ingenuity and pains- 
taking effort the manufactured article from the raw material. 
The flax was raised, rotted, broken, hackeled, spun and 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 31 

woven ; the wool was sheared, washed, carded, rolled, spun 
and woven, and the resultant cloth was by home hands made 
to do for the ever increasing families, for children were the 
most prolific crop. In the inventory for 1812 there are no 
sheep enumerated, and there doubtless but few in town, cos- 
sets kept near the door, for many years were yet to pass be- 
fore sheep and lambs would be safe from bears, wolves and 
the Siberian lynxes, with which the forests abounded. Some 
of the housewives obtained now and then a fleece of wool 
from a LandafF or a Warren neighbor in exchange for knots 
of "tow and linen" yarn, but wool and cloth were precious 
commodities, The buildings in the town, housing forty 
families, were valued this same year at $2415. They were 
hardly dwellings with all modern improvements. As for 
other property there were 39 horses, 32 oxen and 139 cows 
and other neat stock from one year old and upwards. There 
seems to have been one capitalist in town, for Obadiah 
Whitcher, who lived near the Warren line, was assessed for 
$200 money at interest. The hardships borne by these ear- 
ly settlers, and their contentment and cheerfullness under 
these hardships seem at the present time almost incredible. 
Some of them gave up the contest and migrated to other 
towns where they deemed conditions more favorable, but 
those who remained illustrated the theory of the scientists 
as to the "survival of the fittest." 

The beginning had been made. A town government had 
been made. The first town meeting was warned by Obadi- 
ah Eastman, Esq., to be held December 30, 1801, at the 
dwelling house of Major Jonathan Hale, on request of the 
following freeholders of the town : 

Robert Elliott, Samuel Jackson, 

James Ford, Samuel Jackson, Jr., 



32 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Salmon Niles, Obadiah Eastman, Jr., 

Elisha Ford, James Eastman, 

Samuel Marston, Barnabas Niles. 

The officers chosen were : moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; 
town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Samuel Jackson, Oba- 
diah Eastman, Barnabas Niles ; constable, Elisha Ford. 
This meeting was simply for organization. The first regu- 
lar March town meeting was held March 9, 1802. At this 
meeting the officers elected were : moderator, Barnabas 
Niles ; town clerk, Salmon Niles; selectmen, Samuel Jack- 
son, Obadiah Eastman, William Coolidge ; constable, 
Elisha Ford ; surveyors of highways, James Eastman, Bar- 
nabas Niles. It was voted to raise the sum of thirty-eight 
dollars for the support of schools, eighteen dollars to defray 
town charges and forty dollars for the purpose of repairing 
roads. It was also voted that "each man working on the 
road be allowed seven cents an hour, a yoke of oxen the 
same, each man to find his own* diet and tools." At this 
meeting no votes appear to have been cast tor Governor, 
Councillor, Senator and County officers. Perhaps the town 
authorities did not understand that they had suffrage rights 
in this matter. March 24, 1802 the freeholders and other 
voters of Coventry and Haverhill met at the dwelling house 
of Major Jona. Hale, innholder, for the choice of a represent- 
ative to the General Court. Dr. Ross Coon, of Haverhill, 
was chosen moderator and Col. Moody Bedell, of Haverhill, 
representative. The meetings for the choice of representa- 
tive appear to have been held subsequently in Haverhill until 
Coventry, in 1807, was classed with Warren for the choice 
of representative, and the meeting was again held in Coven- 
try. A meeting was held August 30, 1802 for the purpose 
of voting for members of Congress at which eight votes 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 



33 



were cast, all for the regular candidates of the Federalist 
party, Samuel Tenney, Silas Betton, Clifton Claggett, Sam- 
uel Hunt and David Hough. 

The growth of the town during the next ten years is indi- 
cated to some extent by the appropriations made at the an- 
nual town meeting of 1812. It was voted to raise seventy 
dollars for schools ; thirty dollars to defray town charges, 
and two hundred dollars for making and repairing highways. 
These were certainly liberal appropriations in view of the in- 
ventory of taxable property in the town to which reference 
has already been made. The names of the voters in the 
town as appearing on the check list in this latter year were : 



Jonathan Hale, 
Philip Knowton, 
Salmon Niles, 
Stephen Jeffers, 
Levi Doty, 
William Whitcher, 
Daniel Howe, 
Daniel Noyes, 
William Coolidge, 
Jonathan Marston, 
Joseph E. Marston, 
James Eastman, 
Peter Eastman, 
Samuel Jackson, Jr., 
James Ford, 
Abner Willoughby, 



Benjamin Woodbury, 
William Mead, 
Hugh Matthews, 
Daniel Davis, 
Robert Elliott, 
Peter Howe, 
Jesse Tyler, 
Kimball Tyler, 
David Marston, 
Abraham Norris, 
Obadiah Eastman, 
Moses Eastman, 
Samuel Jackson > 
Robert Jackson, 
Elisha Ford, 
Samuel Aspinwall, 
Elkanah Danforth. 



Obadiah Whitcher, 
Here were 34 legal voters 
state officers was but 24. 

For Governor, William Plummer received 12. 



but the highest vote cast for 



34 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

John Taylor Gilman, 8. 

For Councillor, Abel Merrill, 19. 

Jonathan Franklin, 5. 

The independent voter was abroad, but the Jeffersonian 
Democracy was in the majority, which was all the more ap- 
parent at the November election, when the eight Madison 
electors received ten votes each, to one each for the Clinton 
electors. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 



35 



CHAPTER III. 

LATER COMERS AND GROWTH. 

The growth of Coventry was not rapid during the next 
generation, counting a generation's life at thirty-three years, 
but it had been healthy and sure. It was still in 1835 a 
backwoods town, with poor roads, inadequate schools, with- 
out a church edifice, post-office or store, but the population 
had nearly trebled, being about 400, and the legal voters at 
the annual March meeting of 1835 numbered a little up- 
wards of ninety, though for state and county officers but 
seventy-four votes were polled. The check list for that 
year contained the following names : 



Abel Batchelder, 
Israel H. Davis, 
Jeremiah B. Davis, 
Kimball Tyler, 
Samuel Howe, 
Jacob Whitcher, 
James Hinkley, 
Kinsley H. Batchelder, 
Samuel Mann, 
William Howe, 
Nathan Coburn, 
William Whitcher, 
William Whitcher, Jr., 
William Hand, 
Samuel Kimball, 
Joseph S. Lock, 
John K. Davis, 



Nathan B Davis, 
Jonathan Davis, 
Jonathan Noyes, 
Edwin Tyler, 
David Whitcher, 
Chellis Goodwin, 
Jesse Hinkley, 
Daniel Howe, 
Abraham Norris, 
George W. Cogswell, 
Ara Smith, 
Moses Whitcher, 
Amos Whitcher, 
Amos Kimball, 
Richard Brown, 
John S. Batchelder, 
Enos Wells, 



36 



SOME THINGS ABOUT 



Orrin Marston, 
Thomas French, 
Winthrop G. Torsey, 
Charles K. Merrill, 
James Flanders, 
William Mann, 
John Stowe, Jr., 
William Keyser, 
Humphrey P. Tyler, 
Timothy Ayer, 
J. P. Ayer, 
Joseph Rollins, 
Elijah Gray, 
Jonathan Welch, 
Hugh Matthews, 
Jesse Eastman, Jr., 
John Jeffers, 
John Lathrop, 
Jacob Currier, 
James Ford, 
Deliverance Woodward, 
David Chase, 
Levi Bradish, 
Rexford Peirce, 
Moses Mead, 
James Kent, 
Stephen Jeffers, 
Samuel Page, 
Niles Doty, 
Peter Howe, 



Jonathan Marston, 
James H. Cox, 
Moses Torsey, 
Israel Flanders, 
John Brown, 
John Stowe, 
Francis Oakes, 
Elisha Tyler, 
Benjamin C. Hutchins, 
Alvah Ayer, 
Milton Southard, 
Elijah S. Gray. 
Barzilla Pierce, 
Chase Whitcher, Jr., 
Jesse Eastman, 
Benjamin M. Eastman, 
Josiah F. Jeffers, 
Calvin Bailey, 
Elisha Ford, 
Daniel Batchelder, 
Weare Leavitt, 
Arthur L. Pike, 
Phineas Gould, 
Aaron Knight, 
Jonathan Hale, 
James J. Page, 
David Page, 
Edward P. Coolidge, 
William Doty, 
Robert Coburn. 



With the exception of two farms subsequently cleared at 
the base of Moosilauke up the Tunnel stream, and in two or 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 37 

three other localities, where farms were afterwards cleared 
adjoining those already settled, the settlement of the town 
was in 1835 complete. Its subsequent growth was largely 
from the inside rather than from the outside. The land ca- 
pable of cultivation had been taken up and the period of set- 
tlement was being followed by a period of development. 
The early poverty had been to some extent overcome as is 
evidenced by the fact that in the inventory for the year three 
taxpayers were assessed for property valued at upwards of" 
$2000, viz.; Moses and William Whitcher, Jr., $2138, 
Deliverance Woodward $2361, and Moses Mead $2231, 
while several, Kinsley H. Batchelder, Daniel Howe, Nathan 
Coburn, Enos Wells, Daniel Batchelder, David Chase, 
Aaron Knight, and Peter Howe were each assessed upon 
property valued at $1000 and upwards. Two taxpayers had 
money at interest, Elder George W. Cogswell, a minister of 
the Free Will Baptist denomination, and Moses Mead, be- 
ing assessed for $300 each. 

Of those coming into town and becoming with their fami- 
lies permanent residents between the years 1812 and 1835, 
some merit more than passing notice. John Buswell came 
from Hill in the year 1812 and entered the employment of 
Dr. Thatcher Goddard. His wife was Lucinda Pike, a sis- 
ter of Isaac Pike, of Haverhill, Mrs. James Harriman, of 
Warren, and of Arthur L. Pike, who for several years was 
a resident of Coventry, though he afterwards removed to Ha- 
verhill. Mr. Buswell subsequently removed to Warren, 
then to Haverhill, but later returned to Coventry purchasing 
the farm at the west end of "the Meadows" where he lived 
until his death in 1858. He was a man of much force of 
character, an old time Federalist, a devoted Whig, a wor- 
shiper of Henry Clay, and in 1855 cast one of the two last 



38 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Whig ballots ever polled in town. His family of thirteen 
children, with one exception, lived to the estate of manhood 
and womanhood. One son, Moses P. Buswell, lived for 
many years in town, afterwards removing to Haverhill, where 
he still resides. 

Stephen Jeffers and Levi Doty settled in what afterwards 
became the "Page District" in 1812. The Dotys were for 
several years residents of the town, but later removed to 
Haverhill. In 1813 James and Elisha Ford were occupy- 
ing the meadow farm afterwards known as the A. L. Warren 
farm while Daniel Davis, Esq., and William Mead had also 
established themselves on the Meadows. On the north side 
of the town Samuel Morrill and James Rogers were among 
the new comers. James Rogers came from Greenfield, Mass., 
and married Hepzibah Tyler, a sister of Kimball Tyler, May 
9, 1813. Samuel Morrill married Rhoda Howe, a sister of 
Peter Howe. Chase Whitcher, Jr., had begun a settlement on 
the North and South road about a mile distant from Jonathan 
Marston's to the South, and was married March 21, 1813 to 
Mary Green, of New Holderness. They had no issue, and 
his farm is now a part of the forest lands of the International 
Paper Co. Asa Hinkley also settled the same year next to 
LandafF line a little to the east of the Abraham Norris 
farm, but a few years later removed with his sons, James 
and Jesse, just over the line in Haverhill. 

The new settlers in 1814 were William Rogers, Moses 
Torsey, Robert Rollins, Joseph Rollins, Michael Moulton 
and Jacob Moulton on the north side of the town. Moses 
Torsey settled to the east of the North and South road on 
the farm afterwards owned by his son Winthrop G. Torsey. 
During his occupancy of the farm he trapped and killed 
forty-nine bears and just missed his fiftieth through the 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 39 

theft of his trap. His son, Winthop G. Torsey, lived in 
town until his death at an advanced age, serving on the 
board of selectmen, and filling various town offices. 
One of his sons, Moses Torsey, Jr., moved to Haverhill. 
One daughter, Sally, married Elisha Kimball of Methuen, 
Mass., another, Betsey, married Robert Coburn, and an- 
other, Mary, married Orrin Marston, both of Coventry. 
William T. Torsey, son of Winthrop G., was also promi- 
nent in town affairs. His only daughter, Emeline, is the 
wife of Milo H. Annis, of Woodsville. The family was 
noted for thrift, economy and the virtues of a strict Puritan- 
ism. On the south and west the new comers were Nathan 
Fifield, William Fifield, Isaac Fifield, William Bickford, 
Elkanah Danforth and Sylvanus Emery, but none of them 
remained long in town. 

The check list for 1815 shows but forty names. The 
hard times following the second war with England had 
produced their due effect and at the March meeting held 
at the house of James Eastman at "High Street" only 20 ot 
the 40 voters made their appearance. The north side of the 
town was represented only by Peter Howe and William 
Whitcher. William Coolidge, Daniel Howe, David and 
Jonathan Marston, Samuel Morrill, Abraham Norris, Kim- 
ball, Elisha and Jesse Tyler and Moses Torsey were not 
present. With the two exceptions named the voters were 
all from the south and west part of the town, and but two 
new names appeared on the list of voters, Samuel Fairbanks 
and Nathan Barber. It is perhaps unnecessary to state that 
the north part of the town was not recognized in the choice 
of town officers. 

In 1816 three new names appeared on the check list, Eli- 
jah Gray, Nathan Willey and Moses L. Hobart. Elijah 



40 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Gray settled on what is now a part of the Dickey farm, so 
called, near High Street, and his buildings were a little to 
the east of the buildings on that farm. His farm has for 
the most part grown up to forest, and the site of the farm 
house is marked by an old cellar near the Moosilauke path. 
Moses L. Hobart kept the tavern on the Meadows, and dur- 
ing his stay in town was active in town affairs. There were 
but thirty-seven names on the list. 

In 1817 several new names appeared on the check list, 
among them : Moses Knight, Ira Martin, Enos Wells, 
Samuel Page and James B. Davis. Moses Knight came 
from Landaff and purchased the William Coolidge farm, 
which later passed into the possession of Joseph Annis. 
Moses Knight with his sons were hard working men, but re- 
mained in town but a few years when they removed to East 
Haverhill. Ira Martin came from Bradford and settled on 
the road leading from North Benton to Haverhill. His wife 
was Sally Flanders, of Haverhill, whom he married March 
7, 1802. 

Perhaps the most notable new voter was Capt. Enos 
Wells who came from Canaan in 1816 and established him- 
self on the South road, his farm afterwards becoming the 
property of his son George. For a period of more than 
thirty years Capt. Enos Wells was a personality to be reck- 
oned with in all affairs of the town, social, religious, po- 
litical. Social affairs in those early days clustered around 
the military order. Training days and muster days were 
great days, and Captain Enos Wells was a marked figure 
on these occasion. He was a man of religious fervor, and 
long before a church edifice had been erected in town he was 
one of the first to welcome the itinerant Methodist preachers 
and early identified himself with that denomination. Cap- 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 41 

tain Wells had a gift for politics, as is evidenced by the 
fact that two years after his advent in town, in 1818, he 
was elected selectman and from that time on, until he retir- 
ed from the active affairs of life, he was almost constantly in 
the service of the town as selectman or representative in the 
General Court. In 1827 he was chosen representative from 
the classed towns of Warren and Coventry, and at the an- 
nual town meeting in 1828 he was chosen agent to secure 
from the legislature an act permitting Coventry to send a 
representative by itself. He was successful in securing the 
desired legislation, and in 1829 was awarded the honor of 
being Coventry's first representative in the Great and Gener- 
al Court. Capt. Wells was a man of fair education, of 
great shrewdness and tact, and on a larger field of action 
would have won great fame as a politician. His children 
by his first marriage all died in infancy. He married for 
his second wife Sally Clark, of Landaff, who bore him three 
sons, Caleb, George and Enos C, all of whom are still 
living, the two first named in Haverhill, and the youngest 
in Lynn, Mass. Capt. Wells in later years built himself a 
house on Whitcher brook, near his sawmill, where he resid- 
ed until his death, while for several years previous to their 
removal from town, his sons occupied farms on the South 
road, so called, in near proximity to that of their father. 
At present all of these are numbered among the abandon- 
ed farms of the town, and only the remnants of a dam mark 
the site where the sawmill once stood. 

Samuel Page also came to Coventry, from Haverhill, 
Mass., in 1816, and purchased one of the farms in the Wil- 
lard survey. He was known as "Bear" Page, just why 
does not appear. It may have been to distinguish him from 
another Samuel Page, or the nickname may have been given 



42 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

him from some personal peculiarity, or still again, and 
what is more probable, it may have been given from the 
number of bears, with which the mountain forests abounded, 
he had been successful in killing. He was never himself 
prominent in town affairs, but of his five sons, three, James 
J., David and Daniel D., became influential citizens. David 
remained in town but a few years, married Margaret Taylor, 
of Derry, and removed to Haverhill Corner, where he was 
engaged in various speculative enterprises, and was from 
1844 until his death, a member of the Grafton County bar. 
His son, Samuel T. Page, graduated from Dartmouth in 
1871, was admitted to the bar, resided in Haverhill, repre- 
sented that town in the state legislature, was Register of 
Probate for several years, removed to Manchester, and in 
1903 returned to Haverhill, where he is still practicing his 
profession. A daughter, Elvira, married Hon. Alvin Bur- 
leigh, of Plymouth. Another daughter, Martha, died soon 
after her marriage to a Mr. Whitney, of Keene. 

James J. Page, son of Samuel, received a good educa- 
tion, and for years followed the occupation of schoolmaster 
during the winter season, caring for his farm in the summer. 
Many elderly people have vivid recollections of him as 
school master, a man well versed in the "three It's", and 
strong on discipline, even though maintained by "birch and 
rule." Several of his daughters were teachers, notably, 
Eliza, Laura, Elizabeth and Mary, while his son, James, 
was one of the famous district schoolmasters of the day. 
Norman, the son of James, is following the profession of 
teacher, and is at present principal of a high school in 
the southern part of the state. There was a sort of teach- 
ing instinct in the family. James J. Page entered actively 
into town affairs almost on attaining his majority, served as 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 43 

superintending school committee, selectman, representative 
to the General Court, and, in the days when the voters of 
the town had become, almost without exception, Democrats, 
and the unanimous Democracy had become divided into fac- 
tions, was the acknowledged leader of the Page faction or 
party. His brother, Daniel D. Page, was only less promi- 
nent in the affairs of the town. He served as selectman, as 
member of the legislature, and held various town offices, at 
times and seasons when it was thought safer for him to be a 
candidate than for his brother James. While James J., late 
in life removed to Haverhill, buying a small farm on the 
river road a little south of the Newbury bridge, Daniel D. 
remained in town until his death, but each of his four sons 
left town soon after reaching their majority. James Page 
married Olive A., daughter of Jonathan Hunkins, who had 
settled at the end of the road on the Tunnel Strean, and set- 
tled on the farm of his father, living there until his death, the 
farm since being in the possession of his widow and children. 
It is the only farm in the south or west section of the town 
which has remained in the same family through three gen- 
erations. James served as town clerk, selectman and rep- 
resentative, and was for years the efficient superintendent of 
schools. Another son of Samuel, Caleb, remained in town 
but a little time, when he removed to Haverhill. He mar- 
ried a sister of Isaac Pike. Another son, Joshua, was 
drowned before reaching manhood. 

The new names appearing on the check list in 1818 were 
those of Timothy Ayer, Benj, R. Davis, John Huntress, 
Abner Palmer, Jonathan Welch, Stephen Lovejoy and Abel 
Marshall. Of these Jonathan Welch alone remained in 
town for a sufficient length of time to become permanently 
identified with its interests. He settled in the "High Street" 



44 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

neighborhood, and his two sons, Silas M. and Bartlett, both 
became prominent citizens, each serving on the board of 
selectmen, and both dying in their early manhood within a 
few days of each other of malignant diptheria. George 
Welch, one of the sons of Silas M., still resides in town, 
and another, Edgar, is engaged as a carpenter, builder and 
manufacturer of woodwork at Barton, Vt. 

James Ball came to Coventry in 1819, but soon removed 
to East Landaff where he lived to an advanced age, and 
where some of his descendants still reside. Nathaniel Howe, 
brother of Daniel and Peter Howe, also settled in town the 
same year. The names of John Ford, James Harford and 
Moses Knight, Jr., also appear on the check list for the first 
time this year. 

The new voters in 1820 were John Atwell, Augustus 
Coburn, Caleb Page and Ona Snow. John Atwell was a 
native of Maine ; he married Dolly, a sister of William 
Whitcher, and settled on a farm on the road leading to the 
east part of the town, afterwards known as the Stephen 
Sherman farm, but now destitute of buildings, and mostly 
grown up to young forest. He was- killed by a falling tree, 
and his widow survived him but a few years. One son, 
Chase Whitcher Atwell, went to Massachusetts, and at the 
time of his death, about 1889, was engaged in the real 
estate business in Boston. Caleb Page was a son of Samuel 
Page, but after his marriage removed to Haverhill and dur- 
ing the latter part of his life lived on the Oliverian road in 
East Haverhill, near the Benton line. Augustus Coburn 
was the first of a family coming later to town, who were im- 
portant factors in its life. 

New names added to the voting list in 1821 were Aaron 
Knight, Asa Howe, David Corwin, Ezra Niles, John Flan- 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 45 

ders, Noadiah Lund, Thomas Treffren, Moses Mead and 
David Elliott. Aaron Knight was the son of Moses Knight, 
and Moses Mead was the son of William Mead, who had 
settled on the Meadows some years previously. The son, 
Moses, lived in town the greater part ot the time for the 
next thirty years, and for much of the time was engaged in 
the profitable occupation of peddling. Asa Howe, a brother 
of Peter and Daniel, came from LandafF to the north part 
of the town, but remained only a few years, when he remov- 
ed to Sutton, Vt., where he spent the remainder of his life. 
In 1822 the name of James J. Page appears on the voting 
list, and he became immediately active in all the affairs of 
the town. Of liberal religious views, fond of good living, a 
good story teller, holding pronounced views in politics and 
on social questions he became early a leader. William 
Jenness had become the owner of the large Jonathan Hale 
farm, and his name was another of the new ones appearing 
in 1822. In the latter part of the same year Israel Flan- 
ders, accompanied by his father, Josiah Flanders, came to 
town from Bradford, Vt., and settled in the easterly part of 
North Benton on the farm where he lived until his death, 
followed the next year by his brother, James Flanders, who 
settled on a farm adjoining. Josiah Flanders had been a 
soldier in the War of the Revolution, and lived but a few 
years after coming to town. His grave is in the East ceme- 
tery. In each of the three cemeteries in town is found one 
such grave, that of Obadiah Eastman being at High Street, 
and thai of Joseph Young in the West cemetery. Israel 
Flanders married Polly, a sister of Enos Wells, who bore 
him two sons and two daughters ; John, LaFayette, Mahala, 
who married John E. Keyser, and Hannah, who married 
for her first husband Nelson F. Noyes. John settled on a 



46 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

farm near his father where he resided until his death in 1903. 
LaFayette removed to Haverhill where he still resides. 
Hannah lives with a daughter in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and 
Mahala, the widow of John E. Keyser, still resides in town. 
Israel and Polly Flanders were simple, quiet, thrifty, God 
fearing people, who brought their family up, so far as lay in 
their power, to follow in their steps. They "got religion" of 
the fervid Methodist sort early, and enjoyed it during their 
long lives of nearly ninety years. They seldom ventured far 
from home, their hill farm supplied their simple wants, they 
knew nothing of the fret and anxiety caused by hustling and 
bustling to secure large wealth. They avoided debt, and 
while their earthly possessions were few, they would have 
scorned the thought of being regarded poor. There are some 
scores of people living who would travel some distance to 
hear "Uncle Israel" once more sing in a Methodist prayer 
meeting : 

"Oh how happy are they 

Who their 8aviour obey," etc. 

or to hear "Aunt Polly" declare that she meant "to perse- 
vere on to the end and at last land her weary soul in the broad 
bay of heaven, to go no more out forever in a never ending 
eternity." Aunt Polly sometimes mixed her figures of 
speech, but she was fervidly eloquent. 

James Hopkins Cox also came to town in this same year, 
1822, and established himself a little to the east of the North 
and South road, where he cleared a farm which became pro- 
ductive, though it was a common saying that there was no 
place on his farm where an ox cart could stand level except 
on the barn floor. His eldest son, Albert, settled near him 
on reaching his majority, while his second, Thomas, lived 
with his father until about 1865, when they sold their farm 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. IT. 47 

and removed to Lisbon. His youngest son, George, re- 
moved to Bath, and later to Manchester. Mr. Cox was a 
man ot a good deal of energy and originality of character. 
He was outspoken, not to say loud spoken, in his views, and 
his neighbors were never at a loss to know where he stood 
on any question of interest to the public. His name appears 
on the check list for the first time in 1823. Other new 
names were those of David Quimby, Joseph Pearsons, Ben- 
jamin Page, Robert Hunkings, Joseph Day and Smith 
Jackson. 

New names on the list in 1824 were Daniel Batchelder, 
Daniel Day, Moses French, Samuel Page, Jr., and Asa 
Smith. Daniel Batchelder was a clergyman, who remain- 
ed in town but a little while, but his son, Daniel Batchel- 
der, Jr., who became a voter in 1825, became during the 
next twenty years one of the leading citizens of the town. 
He served on the board of selectmen, for several years rep- 
resented the town in the General Court, where, in 1840, he 
secured the passage of the act changing the name of the 
town from Coventry to Benton. There are few of the resi- 
dents of the North Country who do not remember "Dan 
Batchelder", who from 1830 to 1860, was probably the most 
popular country auctioneer for a large section of Grafton 
county, New Hampshire, and Orange county, Vermont. 
Rough and brusque in manner, boisterous in his demeanor, 
quick witted, and ready with story and repartee, he was in 
himself an attraction on auction days, and knew just how 
to deal with the crowds who attended the sales of farm 
crops, farm stock, farming utensils, and "other articless too 
numerous to mention", which went to make up the auctions 
at farm houses. He was a man of great tact, and of influ- 
ence in the councils of his party. He removed from Benton 



48 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

to Corinth, Vt., but later returned to New Hampshire, buy- 
ing a home in Haverhill, near what is now Pike, where he 
spent the later years of his life. 

Ara Smith settled on the South road in North Benton, in 
what was known as the Wells neighborhood. He had one 
son, Henry, who left town in early manhood. Other new 
comers whose names appear on the check list for the first 
time in 1826 were Nathan Coburn, Robert Coburn, Jacob 
Currier, William Mann, Josuha Knight, (a son of Moses 
Knight), Jonathan Noyes, Joseph Palmer and Daniel 
Patch. Nathan and Robert Coburn were brothers of Au- 
gustus Coburn, who came to town six years before. Na- 
than became prominent in town affairs, serving as town 
clerk, selectman and representative, but removed from town 
in 1835. Robert was less active, but was greatly interested 
in religious matters, was licensed and later ordained as a 
preacher in the Christain denomination, but, while preach- 
ing occasionally, never held a regular pastorate. The hill 
lying to the east of the South road, and to the west of what 
were known as the Clough and Wright farms, was long 
known as "Coburn hill." Jonathan Noyes was a brother 
of the wife of William Whitcher. He remained but a few 
years in town, when he returned to his native town, Landaff. 
William Mann settled just off the East road next to Lan- 
daff line, and near Tunnel Stream, and his farm was one of 
the best in that section. The buildings have long since dis- 
appeared, but as late as 1860 the apple and fruit orchard, 
which he had planted, was one of the best in town. 

The new names in 1827 were those of James Hinkley, 
Nathan Johnson, Jonathan Bailey, Moses Ellsworth and 
Benjamin C. Hutchins. The latter had a large family, and 
of his sons, Lucius, Joseph, Benjamin F. and Noah, were 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 49 

tor a long time residents of the town. Noah married 
Hannah Jesseman, of Franconia. A daughter married 
Rev. George Brown, the well-known Advent clergyman of 
Centre Haverhill, and their son, Solomon J., resides in Ben- 
ton on the William T. Torsey farm. Noah Hutchins died 
of consumption in middle life, and his widow subsequently 
married William T. Torsey. Lucius Hutchins spent the 
most of his life in town, but none of his family now live 
there. Joseph Hutchins, late in life, removed to Haverhill, 
and one son, Charles, resides in Woodsville. Benjamin 
F. Hutchins died in the early fifties of cancer, and his three 
daughters married and removed from town. The eldest 
daughter, Susan, married Kimball F. Woodman, of Bath. 
The widow of Benjamin F. Hutchins subsequently married 
Amos C. Mann. The Hutchinses all resided in the east part 
of the town, as did Asa Merrill, who married the daughter 
of Benjamin C. While none of the family succeeded in ac- 
cumulating property they were, for the most part, industri- 
ous people, who contributed to the growth and development 
of the town. There was a comparatively large immigration 
into the town in 1827, and the tax list of 1828 bore a large 
number of new names. These were : Nathan B. Davis, 
Jeremiah B. Davis, John K. Davis, Israel H. Davis, Jona- 
than Davis, Jonathan Davis, Jr., William Davis, William 
Doty, Daniel Doty, Winthrop Elliott, David Elliott, Fay- 
ette Wells, Daniel Coburn, Jacob Whitcher, Thomas W. 
Ford, Daniel Young, Wm. Keyser, Oliver Farmer, Sam- 
uel Tyler; Winthrop G. Torsey, Amos Tyler, Abel Batch- 
elder, Jeremiah Davenport and Roswell Elliott. 

William Keyser settled in the east part of the town, clear- 
ing the farm on which his son, James H., now lives. He 
was also a cooper by trade, and found plenty of occupation 



50 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

for the exercise of his trade. In later years, when the man- 
ufacture of potato starch became an important industry in 
Benton, Bath, LandafF and Franconia, he did an extensive 
business in the manufacture of starch casks, and by patient 
unremitting toil made his farm one of the best in the east- 
ern section of the town. His sons, Charles B., John E. 
and James H., all remained in town, being numbered 
among the most useful citizens. Fayette Wells was a 
brother of Capt. Enos Wells, and David and Caleb Noyes 
came from LandafF, remaining, however, but a little time, 
when they returned to LandafF. The Elliotts and Dotys 
lived on the Meadows. Jacob Whitcher was a younger 
brother of William. He married Sarah Richardson, of 
Warren, and settled near Haverhill line at the foot of 
Black Mountain, his farm subsequently being known as the 
Charles M. Howe farm. The buildings have long since dis- 
appeared, and a large part of the farm has reverted once 
more to forest His sons, Hazen, Jacob, Jr., Alonzo, 
Levi and Stephen, left town in early life, removing to Mass- 
achusetts, where their descendants still live, in Stoneham, 
Woburn and Quincy. A daughter, Sarah Jane, married 
the Rev. Andrew K. Crawford, a Methodist Episcopal 
clergyman of New York. She died at an early age, leaving 
two children. 

The Davis family settled in North Benton and were for 
many years largely identified with the growth and develop- 
ment of the town. Jonathan Davis married Miriam Bart- 
lett and came from Essex county, Mass., to Northfield, N. 
H., where his eleven children were born, and all of whom, 
except one, David, who remained in Northfield, came with 
him to Coventry in 1827 or a few years later. Of his sons 
who came to Coventry, Nathan B. Davis married Abigail S. 




Darius K. Davis. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 51 

Batchelder. He settled on the farm at the summit of what is 
now known as Davis hill. Of his six children three died in 
infancy, but three grew to the estate of manhood and wo- 
manhood. Darius K., born in Northfield, Nov. 7, 1825, 
married Susannah, daughter of Daniel and Phebe Howe. 
He resided in Benton until about 1860, when he removed to 
Northfield and to Haverhill, where he was engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits at East Haverhill, Pike and Warren Sum- 
mit for many years. In more recent years he has resided 
in Woodsville with his only child and daughter. Mrs. Oliver 
D. Eastman. As a young man before leaving Benton he 
served as superintending School Committee and also as one 
of the selectmen of the town. His brother Abel, S. E. B., 
born in Benton, Aug. 28, 1827, removed to Indianapolis, 
where he still resides. His sister, Abigail, born in Benton 
Apr. 29, 1837, married W. H. H. Grimes, of Franconia, 
and also removed to Indianapolis, where she has since resid- 
ed. Nathan B. was prominent in town affairs, holding all 
the various town offices. He removed to Haverhill about 
1859. Jeremiah B. Davis, the second son of Jonathan and 
Miriam, married Susan, daughter of Kimball and Sally 
Streeter Tyler, and settled near the County road just to the 
north of Kimball Tyler's farm, the buildings standing near 
the farm buildings now owned and occupied by Byron A. 
Tyler. They had a large family of children, Wesley, Mary, 
Laban T., Eliza, Kimball T., Sally, Jeremiah B., Jr., 
Constantine and Dennison. Of these, only one, Mary, who 
married Charles B. Keyser, now resides in town. Laban T. 
resides in Lynn, Mass, and Jeremiah B. in Easton. 

Israel Davis married Sally Batchelder, a sister of the 
wife of Nathan B., who bore him one son, Israel B., who 
was familiarly known as "Gould" Davis, alleged physician, 



52 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

insurance agent, and "promoter" in a small way of various 
schemes. Israel remained in town but a short time, remov- 
ing to Haverhill, where he lived many years on the Lime 
Kiln road, so called. 

John K. Davis married Sarah Ann Marshall, and settled 
on the South road on a farm recently owned by George 
Brill. They had four sons, Lorenzo D., who removed to 
Tilton ; Marcellus M., who was for many years in the em- 
ploy of the Boston, Concord and Montreal railroad as road 
master, and who, about 1874, moved west ; Frank and Gil- 
man. They had also two daughters, Maria and Sally Ann. 
Jonathan Davis, Jr., also married a Batchelder, Lydia, a 
sister of Abigail and Sally, and settled at the top of the hill 
on the west side of what is known as Davis brook. Of their 
two daughters, Irene became the wife of William T. Tor- 
sey and Sabrina died at about the age of seventeen. 

George Davis, another son of Jonathan and Miriam, was 
a Wesleyan Methodist clergyman. He married Phebe 
Bradbury, and spent a brief time in town, living near his 
brothers, but his life was naturally an itinerant one, and he 
died in Canaan, leaving one son. 

William Davis married Sarah Torsey and settled on a 
farm just to the north of that of his brother Jonathan. He 
left town sometime in the sixties, removing first to Tilton, 
and later to Piermont, where he died about 1897. They 
had two daughters, Amanda, the wife of Edward E. Grimes, 
of Piermont, and Anna. 

Three daughters were also born to Jonathan and Miriam 
Davis. Polly was the first and Sally the second wife of 
Moses Batchelder, a brother of the wives of Nathan B. Isra- 
el and Jonathan Davis, Jr. It was not often that two 
families became so closely connected by marriage as did 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 53 

these two of Davis and Batchelder. The other daughter, 
Irene, married a Philips but did not reside in town. Two 
of the Batchelder brothers, Kinsley and Abel, came to Ben- 
ton about the same time as did the Davises and remained in 
town some years. The Davis family was a large one, 
and for many years, indeed until about 1860, was an 
important element in the life of the town. Israel, 
Jonathan and William Davis were members of the Free-will 
Baptist church and will long be remembered for the part 
they took in the prayer meetings of their denomination. 
They used to sit in the "Amen Corner", and the "Amens" 
of Israel and William were frequently heard by those a mile 
distant from the meeting. Jeremiah B. had for a time a li- 
cense to preach and exercised his right in the barns and 
school houses and farm kitchens, which were the places of 
meeting for religious worship in the days before the meeting 
house was erected. There was a fervid emotional element 
in the Davis' nature, which in times of revival, gave rise to 
shouting and bodily exercises, which were a source of amuse- 
ment, if not of edification, to the younger element in attend- 
ance on the revival services. But one representative of this 
large Davis family is now in town, Mary, the widow of 
Charles B. Keyser, the daughter of Jeremiah. 

In 1829 there were six new names added to the check 
list: Elisha Ford, Jr., Kimball Tyler, Jr., Moses Whitch- 
er, Horace Webber, Hazen Hinkley and Benj. M. Eastman. 
The first three named were sons of early settlers, indicating 
that the town was beginning to grow and develop from with- 
in, a fact made the more patent the next year, 1830, when 
among the new names on the list were those of Jesse East- 
man, Jr., Orrin Marston, Marcus B. Jackson, Elijah Gray, 
Jr., Kimball Tyler, Jr., Moses Torsey, Jr., and William, 



54 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Whitcher, Jr., all sons of early settlers. Moses and Wil- 
liam Whitcher, soon after reaching their majority, formed a 
partnership, engaging extensively in farming and in the 
manufacture of lumber, and soon became noted for their 
energy, enterprise and thrift. William died at an early age, 
and his widow, Lucinda, married Harrison Blake and re- 
moved to LandafT. Moses married Sarah, the daughter of 
Samuel and Dorcas Koyce, and was killed by the falling of 
a tree in March, 1846, in the thirty-ninth year of his age. 
He had served on the board of selectmen, and represented 
the town in the General Court, was town clerk, and, at the 
time of his death, was doubtless in point of business enter- 
prise and ability, in the merited confidence reposed in him 
by his townsmen, the first citizen of his town. Marcus B. 
Jackson was the eldest of the seven children of Samuel 
Jackson, Jr., who was prominent in town affairs in the first 
quarter of the century. The other children were Dan 
Young, William Wilson, Fletcher, Eliza, Thomas Branch 
and John. The family removed to Haverhill, where the 
sons, especially Marcus B., Thomas Branch and John be- 
came leading citizens. Kimball Tyler, Jr., remained but a 
few years in town, going to Stoneham, Mass., where he was 
followed later by several of his brothers and sisters. Jesse 
Eastman, Jr. remained in t'own a few years, but with most 
of his family, left for other localities. Orrin Marston mar- 
ried a daughter of Moses Torsey and established his home 
on a farm he cleared just north of the long stretch of forest 
through which the North and South road runs. He spent 
nearly his whole life in town, but after the death of his wife, 
removed to Franconia, where he spent his last years. One 
of his sons, Stephen Marston, lives in Woodsville. 

Among the new comers in 1829 were John Stow, Ebe- 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 55 

neezer Scribner, William Lane, Samuel Kimball, Ezekiel 
C. Rogers and John Browley. John Stow settled at first 
on the David Marston farm, later owned by William 
Whitcher, and now owned by Bert Cox. He later remov- 
ed to the eastern part ot the town on what is now known as 
the Charles B. Keyser farm. Still later he .owned an excel- 
lent farm on the hill to the west of Enos Wells' saw mill, 
which had formerly been occupied by the Luther brothers. 
This is now numbered among the abandoned farms, and 
though largely grown up to forest, and with buildings long 
since gone, is known as the Stow place. One son, William 
C, known as Carlos Stow, resided in town some years, as 
did also his eldest son, John Stow, Jr., and his two young- 
est sons, Nathan and Nathaniel, known as the Stow twins. 
Later these two latter married sisters, Ruth and Julia 
Weed, and removed to Stoneham, Mass. 

Among the new comers in town in 1830 were John Brown, 
Richard Brown, David Whitcher, Daniel Weeks, Charles 
K. Merrill, Timothy Ayer, Levi Bradish, David Chaney and 
Daniel Chaney, Jr. David Whitcher was a brother ot Wil- 
liam Whitcher. He settled near his brother Jacob, but died 
in 1835. He was one of the selectmen of the town at the 
time of his death. He married Phebe Smith, and his three 
sons, Joseph, David and Daniel removed to Meredith. 
The brothers, John Brown and Richard Brown came from 
Andover. The former settled on a hill farm to the south- 
west of William Keyser's, where he lived until his death. 
His son, Jonas Galusha, lived in town until about 1868, 
when he removed to the farm at Haverhill Centre, where his 
son, Rev. George E. Brown, and his grandsons, Jonas N. 
and Allen Brown now reside. Another son, John C. 
Brown, removed to Michigan in 1856, following his broth- 



56 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

er Jesse, who had gone there earlier, another, Daniel W. 
Brown, died in early manhood. One daughter married 
Joseph Hutchins, and his youngest daughter, Eliza, married 
John Flanders, and still resides in Benton. Jonas G. 
Brown was one of the most thrifty and substantial citizens 
of the town, and acquired a competence trom his farming 
and lumbering operations. His mill on Tunnel stream, 
which he owned in company with Ira Whitcher, was the first 
in the north part of the town to substitute the circular saw 
for the old fashioned "up and down" saw. His wife was 
Angeline Whiteman, of Warren. He embraced the Ad- 
ventist faith, and for many years refrained from voting be- 
cause of conscientious scruples. His son, George E. Brown, 
has been for many years a respected minister of the Advent 
denomination. The eldest of his three daughters, Merium, 
married Chester Clough, of Benton ; Clara J., married YVil- 
lard W. Coburn, of Haverhill. Both are deceased. A daugh- 
ter of Clara, is the wife of Russell T. Bartlett, of Woods- 
ville. The youngest daughter of Jonas G. Brown, Imogene, 
is the wife of Calvin W. Cummings, of Ashland. Richard 
Brown settled in what was known as the "South Neighbor- 
hood", on a farm adjoining that of James H. Cox. He lived 
here until about 1860, when he removed with his son Leon- 
ard to Bath on the farm owned by William Burnham at the 
foot of Bradley Hill. One of his daughters married Bart- 
lett Marston, and another, Nelson F. Carter, the latter re- 
moving to Michigan. 

There were few new settlers in town in 1831, and the 
check list for 1832 shows but two new names, Asa Noyes 
and Calif Day. John Lathrop purchased the Jesse East- 
man farm in 1832, and Josiah F. Jeffers began to clear his 
farm and establish himself on the North and South road, 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 57 

the last settled on the road from High Street to North Ben- 
ton. Deliverance Woodward had purchased the Jonathan 
Hale farm and came to reside upon it, entering actively into 
town life. Edward P. Coolidge, the son of William Cool- 
idge, returned to town to reside with his grandfather, Jona- 
than Hale. Other new voters in 1833 were Weare Leavitt, 
Hiram Pool, Paine Blake, Timothy Hildreth, Timothy 
Wilmot, David Young, Jr., Daniel Weeks, Amos Whitch- 
er and John Stow, Jr. 

During the next two years most of the new names appear- 
ing on the voting list were sons of early settlers, the chief 
exceptions being those of George W. Cogswell and Barzilla 
Pierce in 1834, and Samuel Mann in 1835. 

Barzilla Pierce was a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, 
who lived only a short time in town. He was a man of 
Episcopal proportions, weighing upwards of three hundred 
pounds, but he never reached the Episcopacy. This was 
reserved for Elijah Hedding, who was Presiding Elder for 
several years of the New Hampshire district of the New 
England Conference, and who, according to tradition, once 
preached in David Marston's barn in North Benton while 
visiting the Landaff Circuit. This is believed to be the only 
time that a bishop, or one who was to become a bishop, 
ever visited the town. Major Samuel Mann, who married 
Mary Howe, a sister of Daniel and Peter, settled on the 
farm subsequently owned by his son, George W. They 
were the parents of seven sons, Jesse, Moody, Amos C, 
Samuel, James A., Edward F. and George W. Jesse 
went to Massachusetts, where he resided several years, re- 
turning later to Bath, where he resided during the remain- 
der of his life. While in Massachusetts he resided in 
Charleston, and was one of the leaders of the mob which 



58 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

burned the Ursiline convent in Somerville. After his re- 
turn to New Hampshire he became prominent in the organ- 
ization of the Native American, or Know Nothing party, 
and was frequently on the stump in behalf of his party, and 
later of the Republican party. He was appointed by Presi- 
dent Lincoln mail agent between Littleton and Boston, a 
position which he held for seven or eight years. Moody be- 
came a resident of Haverhill, where he took a prominent 
part in politics, being as uncompromising a Democrat as his 
brother. Jesse was Whig, Know Nothing and Republican. 
Amos C. spent the early part of his life at sea, but later mar- 
ried for his second wife, the widow of Benjamin F. Hutch- 
ins, and lived for several years on the John C. Brown farm 
on the Tunnel Stream at the foot of the path leading to the 
summit of Moosilauke. Samuel, disappointed in a love 
affair, left home suddenly, and nothing was heard of him 
for nearly twenty years, during which time he served in the 
army during the Mexican war, being bearer of dispatches 
for Gen. Zachary Taylor, afterwards going overland to Cal- 
ifornia with the forty-niner's. In the early fifties he return- 
ed home, having long been regarded as dead, and married 
his former sweetheart, Sarah Bailey, of Newbury, Vt., and 
resided for some years on the Hinkley place, just over the 
Benton line, in Haverhill, removing later to Benton to the 
farm now owned by his nephew, Orman L. Mann. James 
A. married Hannah, daughter of William and Mary Whitch- 
er, and lived for a time in Newbury, Vt., removing about 
1848 to Woburn„Mass., where he died in 1874. His chil- 
dren and grandchildren still reside in Woburn, Medford 
and Arlington, one daughter, Mrs. Abbie Kendrick, living 
in Northern Michigan. Edward F. died in early manhood, 
and George W. lived in Benton until his death in January, 




Edward F. Mann. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 59 

1901. He married first, Susan, (laughter of William and 
Mary Whitcher, who bore him five sons, Ezra B., Edward 
F., George Henry, Orman L., and Osman C. Ezra B. 
entered the employ of the Boston, Concord & Montreal 
railroad, married Ellen S., daughter of George W. and Sa- 
rah (Glazier) Bisbee, of Center Haverhill, and settled in 
Woodsville. After several years service on the road as 
freight conductor he purchased an interest in the drug store 
of George S. Cummings, which business he has since con- 
tinued, and has also been the active promoter of every en- 
terprise which has led to the rapid growth and depelopment 
of that village. He has served the town of Haverhill on 
the board of selectmen, has represented it for two years in 
the legislature, and has been, and is, one of the recognized 
leaders of the North Country Democracy. He is president 
of the Woodsville Aqueduct and Electric Light Co., a trus- 
tee of the Woodsville Savings Bank from its beginning, and 
is a large owner of real estate. Edward F. also entered the 
employ of the railroad before reaching his majority, and at 
his death in August 1892, was the general superintendent 
of the Concord and Montreal R. R. system. He was one 
of the leading Democratic politicians of the state, represent- 
ed Benton twice in the House, the Second Senatorial district 
twice in the Senate, and when a candidate for Congress on 
the Democratic ticket ran largely ahead and was defeated by 
a narrow majority. No railroad man in recent years enjoy- 
ed more the confidence of his associates or greater popular- 
ity with the traveling public. He married Elvah G., daugh- 
ter of Chase and Sarah (Royce) Whitcher, who still resides 
in Concord. George Henry followed the example of his two 
brothers and early entered the employ of the railroad, where 
he was for nearly thirty years freight and passenger conduc- 



60 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

tor, leaving some two or three years since to engage in mer- 
cantile business in Woodsville, where he still resides. He 
represented Haverhill for one term in the Legislature. Os- 
man C. died in 1870 in his 18th year, but his twin brother, 
Orman L., is a prosperous and successful farmer in town. 
He has been active in town affairs and has rilled with credit 
to himself the various town offices. George W. Mann mar- 
ried second, Sarah Bisbee, of Haverhill, who bore him three 
sons and two daughters. Melvin J. resides in Woodsville, 
and has for several years been a conductor on the Air line 
express train, his run being between Concord and Woods- 
ville. Hosea also entered the employ of the railroad, and 
was a passenger conductor until the spring of 1898, when 
he left the road to engage in the furniture business in Little- 
ton, where he still resides. Moses B, graduated from the New 
Hampshire State College, and began the study of law, but 
at the beginning of the first Cleveland administration was 
appointed to a clerkship in the naval office in the Boston 
Custom House. He was subsequently appointed inspector, 
a position which he still holds. He is married and resides 
in Maiden, Mass. Susan is a successful teacher, and Min- 
nie is the wife of Sims Nutter, and since the death of her 
father, has resided in Woodsville. George W. Mann spent 
his entire life in Benton after his father moved there in 
1835. He was in his religious faith an ardent Universalist, 
and in politics a democrat, of whose orthodoxy no question 
was ever raised. He represented his town in the Legisla- 
ture several times, and filled all the various town offices. 
He received his education in the district schools and in New- 
bury seminary, and was for many years superintendent of 
schools He was also for several years, by the appoint- 
ment of the governor, a member of the State Board of Ag- 




George W. Mann. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. If. 61 

riculture. Of his family of ten children but one, Orman 
L., now resides in town. 

Major Samuel Mann, when he came to town in the latter 
part of 1834 or 1835, purchased his farm of his brother-in- 
law, Nathaniel Howe, who died in the latter year. 
Major Mann was a man of marked peculiarities. He never 
went with the tide, but in most matters flocked by himself. 
Coventry — Benton — was a Democratic town ; Major Mann 
was, therefore, a Whig. Nearly all the people of the town 
attended religious services, Major Mann remained at home. 
In 1840 the town voted nearly unanimously for a change of 
name from Coventry to Benton, Major Mann casting one of 
the two negative votes. He never drifted with the current, 
but always used two oars and rowed up stream. He was 
interested in political affairs, but was never a candidate for 
office. Of his six sons who grew to manhood, and lived as 
all did to good old age, three, Jesse, Moody and George 
W. were born politicians and ardent partisans. In caucus- 
es, conventions and campaigns they were in their natural el- 
ement, They were party men ever and always, never ques- 
toning the party label and always voting the straight ticket. 

George W. Cogswell lived in town but a few years, but 
he became more closely identified with the life of the town 
than many who spent an entire life-time within its limits. 
He was schoolmaster, teacher of writing schools, farmer, 
man of business and preacher. During his residence in 
town, to which he came from Landaff, he resided on the 
farm now owned by George Bailey. He was ordained a 
minister of the Free Will Baptist denomination, and by his 
preaching in barns, farm house kitchens, and school houses 
gained many adherents to his denomination, and after his 
return to Landaff was the minister to the Free-Will Baptist 



62 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

society, which he was more instrumental than any other in 
organizing, for a period of more than twenty years. He 
knew nothing of theological schools, was unacquainted with 
systematic theology, but he knew the people of Coventry 
and Benton and suited his preaching to their circumstances 
in life and to their environment. He used plain Anglo- 
Saxon speech of the homely sort. He illustrated his topics 
with incidents from the daily life of the people whom he ad- 
dressed, and his hearers were never at a loss to understand 
him. He frequently took a round about way to get at the 
point he wished to make, but he usually arrived. He was 
quaint, original, and what was of great importance with his 
Free Will Baptist hearers, he had the sing-song, plaintive 
minor utterance, which was known among his brethren as 
"the heavenly tone." Some of his sermons were long re- 
membered. On one occasion he discoursed for an hour or 
more on the text ; kk I would not live always." He dwelt at 
great length on the dissatisfactions, griefs and disappoint- 
ments of earthly life and gave reason after reason why long 
continued existence upon this sublunary sphere was unde- 
sirable, but finally he summed it all up by saying : "Now 
brethren, I want to be honest with you, the chief reason 
why I would not live always is because I know I can't." 
During the Millerite excitement some of his flock became 
partial converts to that delusion, causing the Elder great 
concern. Among these were Deacon Winthrop G. Torsey, 
who absented himself from the Elder's ministrations for a 
year or more. At last the Elder was called upon to offici- 
ate at a funeral, at which nearly all the people of the town 
were present, including Deacon Torsey. The Elder did not 
follow the usual line of remarks customary on such occasions, 
but proceeded to just "'do up" the Millerites in general, and 





Amos Whitcher. 



Charles H. Whitcher. 





James E. Whitcher. 



Winthrop C. Whitcher. 



EXTBY—BEXTOX. X. H. 

■dv recognized, Deacon Torsev in particular. 
'.-r. ;':.-_ -r:-!:-r- ':.-. ~:.- ----'..:.-'.. 'j \z_- : :':.-. . : z -.-:.- : 
the town as to why be had adopted tine «™— — 1 order of ser- 
vice, and his rep! at somewhat long experience had 
taught him that "the best time to catch bears was when they 
was raound." He returned after a few years to T^andaff and 
later to Ear: Landaff, now East on. where he died at an ad- 
vanced age. One of his sons, John, is a physician in . 
Hampton, and others reside in T^awdaff and Lisbon, where 
:: .-_-- :.:-': : .zz -i: ::-.'. .:z.z-. 

Amos Whitcher, the fourth son of William and Mary 
hitcher, became a voter in 1833. and for more than 

as an active and useful member of the commu- 
He married Polly Young, of Franconia, and they 
were the parents of Luanda C, who married Horae: 

un, of Landaff: Amaren A., who married Emery 
B. White, of Landaff; Charles H.. 
E.. Fi.rence, who married William C. Young, of Bath, and 

The two eldest daughters removed with their 
husbands to Stoneha: . and were followed later by 

the sons. Charles H. was a carpenter and wood worker. 
and served the town as town clerk cral years before 

leaving Benton. He married Minerva, daughter of David 
Bowman, of Benton, and both are deceased. Winthrop C. 
is a merchant in Stoneham. James E. was a prominer: 
izen of that town, serving on the board of selectmen, and 
represented the town for two terms in the Massaehv.- 
Legislature. He died a compara: :ng man in 1 

Albion G. lived in Stoneham for sever?! but now 

lives in Barre. Yt. Amarett is still living, the oldt- 
the grandchildren of William Whiter, a L died 

in 1871. and Florence Y. resides in Bath, the onlv one of 



64 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Amos Whitcher's family now living in New Hampshire. 
Amos removed with his wife to Stoneham in 1878 or 1879, 
and died there in the early part of 1880, his wife surviving 
him a few years. In his early life he followed the trade of 
cooper, was a captain of the militia. He afterwards became 
a carpenter and builder, and superintended the erection of 
numerous large farm buildings, dams, saw mills and potato 
starch mills. He had great skill in effecting cures of scrof- 
ulous and fever sores, was in great demand as a nurse, and 
was for several years the undertaker for the town, manufac- 
turing the plain pine coffins used before the day of caskets. 
He was for more than twenty-five years postmaster, and 
served for several years as town clerk. If there were sick 
he visited them, if there were mourners he essayed to comfort 
them, if there were those in trouble he had sympathy for 
them. He was a Baptist, a "Free Wilier" in its most em- 
phatic sense. Other denominations were perhaps well 
enough in their way, but the one true apostolic church was 
the Free Will Baptist. He magnified his office of deacon, 
and never gave countenance to false lights. His keenest en- 
joyment was found in attendance upon the quarterly and 
conference meetings of his denomination. His home was a 
free hotel for Free Will Baptist ministers. He never suffer- 
ed business, even though most pressing, to interfere with 
what he regarded his religious privileges and duties. It is 
perhaps needless to say that he never became a rich man, or 
even possessed of a modest competence, but that never 
troubled him. He laid up treasures in heaven. 

The year 1835 may be taken as bringing to a close the 
settlement of Coventry. Thereafter the growth and devel- 
opment was mainly from within. There were some new 
comers during the next period of thirtv-five years, and there 



CO YEXTR Y—BEXTOX, X. H. 65 

were also those who went to Massachusetts or went west, 
but the life, social, political and religious, of the town for 
the next generation was determined for the most part bv the 
families of the first settlers and those who succeeded them 
in the next generation. 



66 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER IV. 

COMING AND GOING. 

The period from 1835 to 1870 was perhaps the most im- 
portant one in the history of the little mountain town. It 
was the period of growth and development, and the period 
in which there was also the beginning of a decadence. The 
real growth was for the most part from within. There were 
large families, and the sons of former settlers made homes 
tor themselves near their parents. There were a few new 
comers who came to stay, but the most of those who came 
to town came for a brief stay, being properly classed as 
transients. Immigration was also followed by emigration, 
and in this latter event the town lost some of its best, most 
enterprising and substantial citizens. Roads were improv- 
ed, school houses were erected, a meeting house was built, 
religious societies were organized, support was given to 
stated religious worship, manufacturing industries were es- 
tablished, chiefly those of the lumber industries, a semi-week- 
ly mail gave the north part of the town postal facilities, but 
at a certain point growth ceased and retrogression began. 
The reasons for this are not far to seek. The opening of 
the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad gave better facil- 
ities for marketing the products of the farm and forest, es- 
pecially the latter, and brought the people more into con- 
tact with the outside world, and gave the more energetic of 
the younger element the idea of bettering their fortunes. 
Then the railroad, which only crossed the town for a short 
distance on the south-west corner, did not come near enough 
to its water power to encourage the establishment of manu- 



C TESTE Y— BE XT OX. W. H. 

factoring industries aside from those of saw mills and potato 
starch mills. Benton was still i; a back town" and yielded to 
the fate of back towns. Bnt the chief reason for first a halt, 
and then decadence, lay in the fact that by the years II - 
50 all the land suitable for agricultural purposes and for the 
establishment of farm homes had been taken up and much of 
that which had been cleared was found to yield unsatisfac- 
tory results for the toil and labor expended. Even the lum- 
ber industry was not largely profitable. The forests and the 
water power sawmills were miles away from the railroad, 
and their products had to be hauled long distances over hilly 
and poor roads. It was not easy for lumbermen to compete 
with those in other localities where the railroad ran through 
virgin forests. The older families, however, clung for 7 
to their homes, and while some were emigrating there were 
also immigrators, and there was a healthy growth and de- 
velopment until the years just after the war of the rebellion. 

William Howe came to town in 1835, bur shortly 
removed to Colebrook, where some of his descendants are 
still living. Francis Oakes established himself in the east 
part of the town and remained several years, later removing 
bifl, and later still to Landafi where he was killed 
in a brawl by a neighbor, one LaFayette IfcComieD, about 
1859, the assailant being indicted for manslaughter, bid 
curing acquittal on the ground of self defense. Of the 
of Francis Oakes, Harvey and Frank rendered good service 
in the war of the rebellion, both dying of wounds or disease : 
Holli- "athan are deceased; William is a reputable 

izen of Easton, while Philemon P., after various domestic 
and lega. entanglements in the law . - also 

a farmer, trader and general utility man in the same town 
T Oakes has had a varied and somewhat 



68 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

checquered career, but somehow he has always come out safely 
trom predicaments which would have discouraged anyone 
else. He is something of a poet, and on town meeting oc- 
casions, both in Benton and Easton, he has rendered valu- 
able services to the taction, whose cause he, for the time be- 
ing, espoused. 

Among the new voters in 1836 were : Abijah Wright, his 
son, Alvah C. Wright, Samuel Whitcher, Joseph Annis, 
Alfred Tyler, James Blake, Rextord Pierce, James A. 
Mann, James Norris and Daniel Emerson. Abijah Wright 
settled in the High Street neighborhood, and his two sons, 
Alvah C. and Gilbert P., became prominent in the affairs of 
the town. Alvah C. lived for several years on a farm to the 
west of Enos Wells' sawmill, adjoining the Stow place, was 
collector of taxes for several years, and in political affairs 
exercised considerable influence. Gilbert P. Wright, who 
became a voter in 1837, married Phebe, daughter of Jona- 
than and Phebe (Howe) Marston, and cleared a farm to the 
east of that of Winthrop G. Torsey, and adjoining that of 
Israel Flanders. He subsequently moved to a house he 
built on the road leading from Bartlett Marston's by the Da- 
vid Clough farm to the Stephen C. Sherman place on the 
East road, where he lived until he removed to Haverhill 
about the year 1875. He had a large family of children, 
none of whom are now residents of Benton. David L. re- 
mained in town for several years after his father removed to 
Haverhill, and another son, Newell C, is a resident of 
Haverhill, with something of prominence as a Democratic 
politician, and a veteran of the Spanish war. Gilbert P. 
Wright was a man of marked peculiarities. Like Moses of 
old, he was slow of speech, measuring his words with rhythmi- 
cal precision, but when he had once spoken there was no 



COVEXTRT—BEXTOX. X. H. 

doubt as to his meaning. Ira Whitcher used to look after 
the subscription of his neighbors to that orthodox Democrat- 
ic organ, the New Hampshire Patriot. Gilbert had given 
Ira the funds to pay a years subscription, but the paper, for 
some reason, did not arrive, and this was the message he 
left one day at the home of Mr. Whitcher : *'I want the 
Squire — when he goes to Concord — to call at the Pa — triot 
office — and tell them — if my paper does not come — I will 
not take it — and if they do not send it right away — I — will 
— stop — it." Gilbert's ;, Pa — triot" came the next week. 
and ever thereafter, so long as he kept his subscription 
paid. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist' 
church, served as selectman, and was an industrious, useful 
citizen. 

Samuel Whitcher was the fifth son of William and 
Mary NoyeB) Whitcher. He purchased what was after- 
wards known as the Stephen C. Sherman farm, and in May 
. married Emily Quimby, of Lisbon. He resided in 
Benton until about 1845, when he removed to East Landaff, 
now Eastun, where he died in October, 1879. Of the chil- 
dren of Samuel, Lydia is the wife of W. Harvey Policy, of 
Quebec, P, Q. ; Betsey S. is the wife of William Kendall, 
of Benton : David S. died in early manhood at Littleton, 
where he was engaged in the practice of law : Daniel J. is a 
leading citizen of Easton, a member of the Xew Hampshire 
Legislature 1878-79; Charles O. lives in WoodsriDe; and 
Susan E., was the wife of George H. Clark, of Benton, 
and died in April, 1900. 

Joseph Annis came from Bath and settled on the William 
Coolidge farm which had subsequently been owned by Moses 
Knight. He died Jan. 5, 1859. at the age of 76, and his 
wife, Betsey Currier, of Bath, died in 1865, aged 77. Of 



70 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

his children, Samuel C. Annis was a life long resident of the 
town, dying in 1899, at the age of 84. Of the children of 
Samuel C. and Mary F. (Smith) Annis, George W. lives 
in the west ; Milo H. is a veteran locomotive engineer in the 
employ of the Boston & Maine R. R., residing in Woods- 
ville ; and a daughter, Anna, is the wife of Paul M. Howe, 
of Haverhill. John S. Annis, another son of Samuel C, 
died in Benton in 1902, in his fifty-first year. Perley M. An- 
nis, son of Joseph and Betsey, resided in Benton until 1856, 
when he removed to Stoneham, Mass. William H. Annis 
died at the age of 65, in 1897 ; and George G. Annis re- 
moved to Groton, Vt., soon after attaining his majority. One 
of the daughters of Joseph Annis, Betsey J., married Wil- 
liam F. Morse and removed with her husband to Thornton 
in 1854. There were other daughters, Ruth, Rachael and 
Mary, who removed from town early in life. 

Col. James Norris was the eldest son of Abraham and 
Polly Norris, the only one of the Norris sons who was a life 
long resident of the town. Abraham Norris died in 1840, 
in his fifty-ninth year. James learned the trade of carpen- 
ter and joiner and followed this occupation until shortly be- 
fore his death in 1890, at the age of 77. In his early life 
he was interested in military affairs, and attained the rank 
of Colonel in the militia. He served for two years as town 
clerk and was for many years collector of taxes. He mar- 
ried when in middle life, Miss Georgianna S. Dean, of Lan- 
caster, but the marriage was an unhappy one, ending a few 
years later in divorce, the cause being the total unfitness for 
each other of two very excellent people. In his later years 
his older sister, Martha, who died in 1888 at the age of 82, 
was his housekeeper. Martha Norris was for some years 
the tailoress of the town, visiting the various families in 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 7 1 

turn, and constructing from the homespun of the day, gar- 
ments for the boys of the family. This was before the days 
of "store clothes." Martha was not an expert in styles. She 
had one pattern which she adapted as best she could to the 
boys of various ages and sizes. The cloth was strong, and 
she took honest stitches. There are now old boys who 
remember with mingled emotions the garments they wore in 
their boyhood, fashioned and constructed by the honest hands 
of Martha Norris. They had tremendous wearing qualities. 
David M. Norris, another son of Abraham and Polly passed 
most of his life in town. He was thrice married. By his 
first marriage he had twin daughters, Harriet and Helen, 
who inherited many of the peculiarities of the Norris family. 
David had a quick, jerky manner of speech, and his opinions 
were expressed in a manner not to be misunderstood. One 
winter there had been quite protracted revival services with 
many conversions, but David, though attending many of the 
meetings, was unmoved. In the following spring he was at 
work for Ira Whitcher engaged in cleaning forest lands. He 
was found one evening by his employer standing apparently 
in deep meditation before a huge pile of burning hardwood 
logs. Turning and pointing to the blazing heat he said : 
"According to some folks tell, Ira, I s'pose hell's just as 

much hotter than that as you can think, but d d if I believe 

it. A man couldn't live in it two minnits." Merrill Norris, 
another son of Abraham, emigrated to Michigan. Joseph 
Dean Xorris married a daughter of Sewell Waterman, of 
Bath, and established himself as a carpenter and builder in 
Swiftwater, Bath, where he lived until his death in 1901. 

Nathan Howe died early in 1835, at the age of 42. His 
wife was Rachael Coburn, twin sister of Nathan Coburn, 
who removed from town with his sister in the autumn of 



72 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

1835. Mrs. Howe subsequently married Isaac Bickford, 
and died in 1862, and was buried in Benton, in the west 
cemetery by the side of her first husband. Their children 
were: Nathan Coburn, born Sept. 17, 1817 ; Stedman Wil- 
lard, born Apr. 21, 1822 ; Ira Goodall, born May 19, 1826 
and Kimball Tyler, born May 19, 1828. All removed to 
Massachusetts, where they died, leaving families, except Ira 
G., who, in 1843, at the age of seventeen, went west to 
grow up with the country. He went into the valley of the 
Wabash, settling at Lafayette, Ind. It was a heavily tim- 
bered, well watered section with a rich and fertile soil, well 
covered with oak, beech and black walnut. The river was 
the dividing line between the timber lands of Indiana and 
the prairie country extending westward across the Mississip- 
pi to the Rocky Mountains. The locality was then but thin- 
ly settled, most of the land still belonging to the govern- 
ment ; now it is one of the finest farming and manufacturing 
sections in Indiana, many of the farms being worth from, 
$100 to $150 per acre. Mr. Howe found employment in a 
store until he reached his majority, when he entered into 
mercantile business, both his partner and himself becoming 
very successful. His partner subsequently founded Purdue 
University. At the age of fifty Mr. Howe gave up this bus- 
iness, engaging in farming, which he has since continued, 
and now in his 79th year still has the oversight of his 2700 
acres of well etocked farms. In 1856 he married Nancy 
Jennings, of Framingham, Mass. They have two children, 
a daughter, the wife of William A. Shipley, of Lafayette, 
and a son, who is in business with his brother-in-law in La- 
fayette, the firm name being Howe & Shipley. 

Nathan Coburn was the most important member of the 
Coburn family, who came to Coventry from Piermont, was 




Ik a G. Howe. 



COVENTRY— BENTON X. H. 



one of the selectmen and town clerk at the time of his re- 
moval, and had several times represented the town in the 
Legislature. He was a man of fine presence, of good edu- 
cation, and his removal was a loss long felt. He married 
Mary Parker, of Lisbon, a daughter of the late Levi Parker, 
a leading citizen of that town, and their large family of chil- 
dren were born in Coventry. They were : Xathan Parker, 
born Feb. 6, 1817; Levi Parker, born May 12, 1819 : 
Alonzo, born October 16, 1821 : Lydia W., born July 23, 
1823 ; James Fisk, born Xov. 26, 1825 ; Benjamin Frank- 
lin, born Xov. 13, 1827 ; Mary Jane, born March 24, 
1830 ; Sally Ann, born Sept. 20, 1832, and Daniel Jen- 
ness, born May 15, 1835. His sons all became successful 
business men in their adopted state. The eldest, Nathan 
Parker Coburn, amassed a large fortune in the boot and 
shoe manufacture, being a partner of ex-Governor William 
Claflin, the Clan 1 in & Coburn factories being situated in 
Hopkinton. He was numbered among the millionaires of 
the state, but his native town had a warm spot in his heart, 
and he never forgot the old school house at the foot of the 
loner hill in district Xo. 5, with George W. Cogswell as 

© © o 

school master. Xathan Coburn lived in a house standing a 
little to the south of the George W. Mann house, which has 
long since disappeared, and only faint traces of the cellar 
can now be seen. 

Edward and William Lother came to town from Xewbury, 
Vt., in 1836 and settled on the hill to the west of Enos 
Wells, their farms subsequently being purchased by John 
Stow and Alvah C. Wright. They remained in town but a 
few years, and returned to Xewbury, Vt. Edward H. Lo- 
ther, of Woodsville, is a son of Edward Lother, and a 
daughter is the wife of Albert H. Leighton, of Woodsville. 



74 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Other new voters in 1837 were Joseph Webber, Elijah S. 
Gray, Elieha Meader, Henry Thrasher, Jeremiah Merrill, 
Asa W. Merrill, Jonas G. Brown, Samuel C. Annis, Gil- 
bert P. Wright and Ira Whitcher. Elisha Meader soon 
after removed to Haverhill, where he spent his life, and his 
sons and grandsons were numbered among the influential 
citizens ot the town. Asa W. Merrill married a daughter 
of Benj. C. Hutchins and lived with his family for the great- 
er part ot his life in the east part of the town, for a number 
of years on a farm to the eastward of that of Israel Flanders. 
Such of his family as are now living have become widely 
scattered. Mention has already been made of Jonas G. 
Brown, Samuel C. Annis and Gilbert P. Wright. 

Ira Whitcher was the seventh child, and the sixth of the 
ten sons of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher. He was 
born Dec. 2, 1815, and died Dec 9, 1897. His early life 
was one of the hardships of poverty, unceasing toil, and of 
educational advantages the most limited. In a few weeks 
in a backwoods school for two or three winters, he learned 
to read, write and cipher, and there his school education end- 
ed. There were few or no books accessible, and had there 
been a well stocked library, it would have made little differ- 
ence, since he had little time for reading. He did how- 
ever, have access to the Town Officer and a copy of the New 
Hampshire statutes owned by his father, the Bible, Web- 
ster's spelling book and one or two of the old time readers, 
and by the time he reached his majority he knew these few 
books, and with the aid of these had obtained a more prac- 
tical, if not more liberal education than some of the young 
men of his age who had attached to their names the degree 
ot A. B. On reaching the age of twenty-one he hired out 
to his brother Moses, for whom he worked six years for the 




Ira Whi~ 



CO VENTR Y— BE XT ON, N. H. 7 5 

compensation of twelve and a half dollars a month and 
board. He picked up enough by extra jobs to purchase his 
clothes, and saved his entire wages, purchasing the farm on 
which he lived until the spring of 1870, and building the 
house on which he established his home on his marriage in the 
autumn of 1843. He became administrator of. the estate 
of his brother Moses at his death in 1846, engaged in the 
business of lumbering, farming becoming a secondary con- 
sideration, and followed this successfully to the time of his 
death. He was elected one of the selectmen in 1842, and 
for the next twenty-nine years, until his removal from town 
was constantly in its service, holding at various times every 
possible town office, except those of grave digger and super- 
intending school committee. It is not too much to say that 
for a period of a quarter of a century no citizen was so 
thoroughly identified with the interests of the town as was 
he, and no one individual did as much for its prosperity. 
He was thrifty, and practiced rigid economy, and was at 
the same time generous and open handed. He believed in 
liberal appropriations for roads, schools and other matters of 
interest to the town, and was a liberal supporter of religious 
meetings. He identified himself with the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and was a life long supporter of its institu- 
tions. At the same time he was no sectarian, and all re- 
ligious denominations had his hearty support. He repre- 
sented Benton six times in the Legislature, served for six 
years as one of the commissioners of Grafton county, was 
a member of Constitutional convention of 1850, was the 
agent for the town for a series of years in the management 
of its law suits and was frequently appointed referee in cases 
to be settled out of court. There was no member of the bar 
residing in Benton, so for a period of twenty-five years he 



76 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

did much of the work for his townsmen for which in the larjre 
towns legal talent was employed. He was a conveyancer, 
writer of wills, admistrator and executor of estates, guardian 
of minors and of insane, and legal advisor in small and in 
large cases as well, and tor the most part without money and 
without price. The late Attorney General, Daniel Barnard, 
once remarked that he regarded Ira Whitcher to be one of 
best lawyers in the state, and that he knew of few men in 
the profession whose opinion in an important case he would 
value more highly. In 1870 Mr. Whitcher removed to 
"Woodsville in order to be close to railroad communication, 
but retained and added to his landed interests in Benton, 
until a few years before his death he sold several thousand 
acres to the Winnipesaukee and the Fall Mountain Paper 
companies. Woodsville in 1870 was little more than a 
struggling collection of a dozen houses, a store and a rail- 
road station. To him, more than to any other individual, was 
due its growth and prosperity during the next twenty-five 
years. He was himself successful in business, accumulating 
a handsome property, but he possessed also a broad public 
spirit. He was largely instrumental in securing for the vil- 
lage the water works and electric light service, the removal 
of the county seat from Haverhill Corner to Woodsville, 
and the erection of the substantial new court house, which 
was built under his personal supervision, the establishment 
of the Savings and National banks, while the Woodsville 
Free Public Library building, a Methodist church property 
freed from debt, the gift of a fine pipe organ and a fund for 
the support of the church are among the monuments left by 
him. After removing to Woodsville he made himself an ac- 
tive factor in Haverhill town life, serving for several years 
on the board of selectmen, and representing the town in 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 11 

1891, when in his 76th year, in the Legislature. In poli- 
tics Mr. Whitcher was a Democrat, of the Andrew Jackson 
school. During the Civil war he was an ardent supporter 
of the war measures of the Administration, and gave of his 
time and energy to keep tull the quota of soldiers from his 
town where opposition to the war was rife. His integrity 
was never questioned, and his tenacity of purpose was such 
that he knew no such word as failure in the accomplishment 
of his plans. 

He married, Nov. 27, 1843, Lucy, daughter of Samuel 
and Dorcas (Foster) Royce, of Haverhill, and their four 
children were born in Benton ; William Frederick, August 
10, 1845 ; Mary Elizabeth, July 16, 1847 : Frank, June 
21, 1849, and Scott, Nov. 2, 1852. The daughter became 
the wife of Chester Abbott, and remained with her father, 
giving him in his old age devoted care and attention until her 
death in April, 1897. The two younger sons died in early 
manhood, Scott, Jan. 22, 1875, and Frank, who had asso- 
ciated himself in business with his father, Nov. 7, in the 
same year. William F. prepared for college at Tilton sem- 
inary, graduated from Wesleyan University in 1871, entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, filling im- 
portant pastorates in Newport and Providence, R. L, and 
New Bedford, Mass., until 1881, when he joined the editori- 
al staff of the Boston Traveller, becoming editor-in-chief four 
years later. In 1892 he became literary editor of the Bos- 
ton Daily Advertiser, and three years later assumed the 
charge of the Court reports, which have for many years been 
a special feature of that paper. On the death of his father in 
1897 he resigned his newspaper position and in the spring 
of 1898 removed his family to Woodsville, where he has 
since resided. Besides devoting himself to the affairs of the 



78 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

estate of his father, he is the editor and proprietor of the 
Woods ville News, and has taken an active part in the affairs 
of the village and town, representing Haverhill in the Leg- 
islature in 1901, and 1903, serving each session on the com- 
mittee on the judiciary. He is interested in historical and 
genealogical studies, and his collection of books bearing 
upon American political history and biography is one of 
the largest and valuable in this state. 

Several new names appeared on the list of voters in 
1838. Among those who moved into town, but whose stay 
was brief, so that they could hardly be regarded as factors in 
the life of the town were ; Lorenzo D. Cummings, John Cum- 
mings and Benj. Little, who lived for a time on the Mead- 
ows and at High Street. The Rev. Geo. Davis lived for a 
short time near his brothers, Nathan B. and Jonathan in the 
east part of the town. William Gannett acquired the 
Jonathan Hale farm and lived there several years, a bust- 
ling, enterprising man of affairs. About 1855 he sold this 
large tract of more than a thousand acres to the Boston, 
Concord & Montreal railroad, and removed to East Haver- 
hill, owning until his death the large farm now owned by 
Alonzo Smith. Levi Whitcher, David M. Howe, Bartlett 
Marston and David M. Norris were voters for the first time 
this year. Both Davids were of course namesakes of David 
Marston. Levi Whitcher was the eldest son of Jacob and 
Sarah (Richardson) Whitcher. He was a deaf mute, but 
obtained a fair education, learned the sign language, mar- 
ried and removed to Quincy, Mass., where he resided until 
his death. He had several children, and his descendants 
still live in Quincy and adjoining towns and cities in Mass- 
achusetts. Some of them have reverted to the original way 
of spelling the family name, Whittier. Caleb Knight was 




William F. Whitcher. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 79 

a son ot Moses Knight, but he removed soon after attaining 
his majority to East Haverhill, living there until his death 
about 1870. His descendants are now widely scattered. 

David Marston Howe was the son of Peter and Mary 
(Powers) Howe, born March 9, 1817. Peter Howe was 
married to Mary Powers Nov. 22, 1812, and of the four 
children the two eldest were daughters. Sally, born July 
22, 1813, married a Streeter and lived in Lisbon. Phebe, 
born Feb. 24, 1815, married first Edwin, son of Kimball 
and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, by whom she had one son, 
Isaac H., and second, Moses X. Howland, of LandafF. 
The youngest son, Moses Whitcher Howe, married Lau- 
ra C. White, daughter of Jacob M. White, of LandafF. 
He resided with his parents for some years after his mar- 
riage, but later purchased the farm now owned by Orman 
L. Mann, residing there till about 1866, when he removed 
to Stoneham, Mass., where he was killed a year or two later 
by a runaway team. He left two sons, Herbert P. and Harry, 
both born in Benton, and both now residing in Stoneham. 
David M. Howe married first Betsey, daughter of Kimball 
and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, born Aug. 20, 1818. Two 
years previous to his removal to Stoneham, Mass., about 
1821, he resided on the farm subsequently owned by his 
brother Moses. He married second Mrs. Ann Parker, of 
Stoneham, who survives him. He was a thrifty, quiet, in- 
dustrious citizen, and his removal from town was deeply re- 
gretted by his fellow townsmen. 

Granville E. Flanders, whose name first appeared on the 
check list in 1839, lived for some twenty years on what is 
now known as the David Dickey farm at High Street and 
which was then one of the finest farms in town. James 
Blake, Joseph Blake, Maturin B. Hall, Rufus Hall, Chase 



80 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Cawley and Alexander Pollard were also new comers in this 
and in the previous year, living in the Page district and on 
the Meadows. The name of Samuel Coburn also appears 
on the check list this year, but none of these appear to have 
remained long in town. 

Peter Howe 2nd came on the active stage of affairs in 
1839, and remained in a state of activity until his death at 
the age of 66, in 1880. The word "active" is perhaps a 
misnomer, since such activity as it was, never resulted in 
any valuable accomplishment. He married in 1839 Har- 
riette W., daughter of Elisha Tyler, and settled on a farm 
to the south of that of his father and to the east of that of 
his brother Samuel. Peter was a character. As a boy he 
was troublesome to his father, and "Uncle Daniel" was ac- 
customed to call him a "pesky rogue." The name stuck, 
and he was known during his entire life as "Pesky Peter" 
or "Pesky Pete." His farm was naturally one of the most 
productive on Howe hill, but Peter never assisted nature. 
He was never guilty of work except on rare occasions when 
he was forced to it by stern necessity. His farm conse- 
quently went to ruin, his stock was only half housed and 
half fed, and Peter was usually on the road behind a half 
starved horse endeavoring to trade in something with some- 
body, it made little difference to him what or with whom. 
He was fertile in schemes of speculation, all of which 
were of an inconsequential character, and it is to be 
doubted if he ever at anv one time in his life possessed the 
sum of five dollars in cash. He was always willing to ob- 
tain credit, and was profuse in promises to pay, and store- 
keepers for miles about his native town were familiar with 
"Pesky Peter." He would journey ten miles to East Lan- 
dafF to secure a cat of a certain color and transport it twenty 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 81 

miles to Wells River, Vt., with the understanding that he 
would receive a dollar for it, should it prove satisfactory. 
He attended auctions and funerals and other festivities 
wherever a free dinner was to be had. He was the victim 
of all kinds of practical jokes, some of which were heartless- 
ly cruel, just because he was "Pesky Peter." His first wife 
was an inoffensive woman, but was not what her neighbors 
regarded as "capable." She bore him three children, suffered 
from hardship and poverty and gave up the contest in 1856, 
at the age of 37. Peter found a second helpmeet in the per- 
son of Emily Merrill, of Woodstock, who managed somehow 
to survive him. Emily was not brilliant, but she had spirit, 
and there were times and occasions when Peter was forced 
to bestir himself and actually work. His eldest son, Rufus 
W., died in 1864 at the age of 25. His two daughters, 
Ellen and Lucina, married and are living in California. A 
son by the second wife, Harry L., a young man of much 
promise, was killed while in the employ of the Boston & 
Maine railroad, at the age of 22. Peter was also something 
of a matrimonial agent. One of his efforts in this direction 
was when he secured a wife for "Nat" Mulliken, the consid- 
eration being an ox yoke and one dollar cash. 

John C. Brown, John Stow, Jr., and Laban Tyler were 
voters for the first time this year. The latter remained but 
a short time in town, removing to Stoneham, Mass., where 
he remained until about 1855, when he went to Michigan. 
One Waite Brown, a halfwitted ne'er-do-well, was also a 
resident in town for two or three years, but soon removed to 
Haverhill, just a little west of the Amos M. Pike farm on 
the road to North Haverhill, where he managed to eke out 
an existence for himself and family, and had time to dwell 
on love and manufacture poetry, such as it was. 



82 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

William K. Bruce came to town when a boy with Wil- 
liam Keyser. He lived after reaching manhood on the farm 
now occupied by the widow of Charles B. Keyser, and died 
May 7, 1858, at the age of 37. He became a voter in 
1830, as did William Howe 2nd. The latter was a son of 
Daniel and Phebe (Eaton) Howe. He was subject to at- 
tacks of insanity, and was three or four times an inmate of 
an insane asylum. He emigrated with his family to Michi- 
gan sometime in the fifties. Hazen Whitcher was a son of 
Jacob and Sarah (Richardson) Whitcher. He married Sally, 
daughter of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler, and settled 
on a farm to the south of that of Samuel Howe, and which 
is still known as the Hazen Whitcher place. After some 
years he removed to Stoneham, Mass., and established him- 
self in the hardware business, subsequently adding to this 
that of undertaking. Both he and his wife lived to an ad- 
vanced age, the latter being about 90 at the time of her 
death in 1899. They left one daughter, Sarah Richardson, 
the wife of Col. Oliver H. Marston, of Stoneham. Hazen 
Whitcher served his adopted town in various official posi- 
tions, was a successful business man, and left at his death a 
handsome estate. 

James Harriman and wife came from Warren to the farm 
in the High Street district since known as the Harriman 
farm, where he resided several years, returning finally to 
Warren Summit where they resided until their death. Mr. 
Harriman was a quiet, easy going sort of a man, but what 
he lacked in push, energy and bustling activity was more 
than made up by Mrs. Harriman. She was a member of 
the famous Pike family, a sister of Isaac, Samuel and Ar- 
thur L. Pike, and was a woman of marked personality and 
character. She combined all the tenderness and sympathy 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 83 

of womanhood with the physical strength and hard headed 
business ability of manhood, and had the thorough respect 
of the business men of the surrounding towns with whom she 
was associated in many important transactions. 

New names appearing on the check list in 1841 were those 
of Moulton B. Richardson, Stephen Bailey, Edward Martin, 
David Young, Jr., Stephen Jeffers, Jr., David Bailey, Eb- 
eneezer Glover and Hosea Litchfield. The latter lived on 
the farm which had been owned by Jacob Whitcher, and 
which later came into the possession of Charles M. Howe. 
In 1842 the new names were those of Benjamin Elliott, 
Kimball Corliss, Ephriam Cross, George Morton, Bailey 
Martin, Seldon Willey, George W. Mann, Hiram Elliott, 
Joshua Page and Reuben Richardson. Benjamin Elliott 
spent most of his life in LandafF, but at two or three differ- 
ent times resided in Benton. He had a large family, but 
only one of his sons, Hiram, was ever a resident of the town. 
A daughter was the wife of Daniel Burnham, who resided 
in town for several years, as did one of his sons, William H. 
Burnham. Benjamin Elliott was not always strictly tem- 
perate in his habits, and he had the reputation of drawing 
the long bow, or in other words, of being prone to exaggera- 
tion. In the old days when minor cases were tried before jus- 
tices of the peace, it was remarked that Ira Goodall, of Bath, 
made frequent use of Thomas Elliott and Benjamin Elliott 
as witnesses. Benjamin one day, when feeling in a commu- 
nicative mood, made this boast : "Give us Squire Swan for 
justice, Squire Goodall for lawyer, and me and my brother 
Tom for evidence, and we'll beat all h 11." 

In 1843 the names of Milton Southard, John Nason, 
Samuel Pike, Asa F. Copp, Jeremiah Farnum, Perley M. 
Annis, Isaac Wyman and Chase Whitcher 2nd appear for the 



84 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

first time on the voting list. Chase Whitcher 2nd was the 
son of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, born Jan. 20, 
1822. On attaining his majority he was employed by his 
brother Moses, and after the death of the latter had the man- 
agement of the large farm belonging to the estate. He mar- 
ried Sarah Royce Whitcher, the widow of his brother 
Moses, and they were the parents of three children. One, 
Hannah, died in infancy; Frances C. born Aug. 22, 1849, 
died in Woodsville Oct. 4, 1889 ; Elvah G., born Nov. 19, 
1850, married Hon. Edward F. Mann, and has resided, since 
the death of her husband, Aug. 19, 1892, in Concord. 
Chase Whitcher was one of the most active citizens of the 
town un'il his removal to Concord in 1875. He was en- 
gaged in the lumber business in partnership with his brother 
Ira until about 1857, and subsequently conducted success- 
fully a large lumber business on his own account. He 
owned in whole or in part several sawmills in East Landaff, 
now Easton, as well as in Benton, and was also a large 
owner of real estate. Of a generous, impulsive disposition, 
with warm sympathy for those in distress, or in need of 
financial assistance, he was the constant helper of many who 
in their shiftlessness and improvidence abused his friendship 
and generosity. He became involved in later years in ex- 
pensive litigations which seriously affected the value of his 
otherwise large property. He represented Benton six times 
in the State Legislature, in 1852, 1853, 1865, 1866, 1869, 
and 1870, and was during a period of twenty-five years al- 
most continuously in the service of the town in various ca- 
pacities, such as town clerk, postmaster and selectman. He 
was always ready to promote any project for the interest of 
the town. He had a deep interest in politics, was active in 
the councils of his party, the Democratic, and enjoyed a 




Chase Whitcher. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, JST. IT. 85 

large acquaintance with politicians and public men. While 
never charged with disloyalty, he was one of the large num- 
ber of Democrats, who during the war of the Rebellion, was 
not in hearty sympathy of the war measures of the Adminis- 
tration. He removed to Concord in 1875, erecting a house 
on Court street, now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Edward 
F. Mann. His last illness occurred in Benton, where he 
had retained large property interests, and he died there in 
his old home May 4, 1883 at the age of 61. 

In 1844 the voting list contained a large number of new 
names. These were : Samuel Royce, Geo. T. Banfield, 
Moses W. Tyler, Elisha Tyler, Jr., John E. Keyser, Caleb 
Brown, William F. Morse, Jona Clement, James P. Flan- 
ders, Jonathan Merrill and William Eastman. Moses W. 
Tyler was the son of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler. 
He went to Stoneham, Mass., for several years, but returned 
to Benton about 1865, remaining for three or four years, 
when he returned to Stoneham, and a little later removed 
with his family to the west. His wife was a daughter of 
Prescott Parker. William F. Morse married Betsey Annis, 
and was for several years the town blacksmith, his shop be- 
ing located on the Annis farm near the meeting house. He 
removed about 1852 to Thornton. Samuel Royce was the 
son of Stephen Royce, of LandafF, born in 1782. He mar- 
ried Dorcas Foster, of that town, and lived in Landaff and 
Haverhill until after the death of" his wife in 1842, when he 
came to Benton and resided for a few years with some one 
of his daughters. Of his six daughters five married. 
Merab was the wife of Samuel Howe ; Sarah, the wife of 
Moses, afterwards ot Chase Whitcher ; Lucy, the wife of Ira 
Whitcher ; Hannah, the wife of Aaron P. Glazier, and 
Lydia, the wife of Moses Noyes of Haverhill. Mr. Royce 



86 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

subsequently removed to Nashua, married Elizabeth Searle, 
but on her death returned to Benton about 1870, living with 
his daughter until his death, Sept. 5, 1873, at the age of 91. 
He was a man of wide and varied reading, of good educa- 
tion, but impractical and visionary in business matters. He 
bore a life of poverty cheerfully, was an ardent Methodist, 
with a gift for exhortation, and was one of the early pioneer 
abolitionists. He never fretted, never permitted debts or 
poverty to give him anxious thought, and during his long 
life was a happy optomist. Perhaps this accounted for his 
ninety-one years of life, free until the last from pain and 
sickness. 

John E. Keyser was the eldest son of William Keyser. 
He married Mahala, daughter of William and Polly (Wells) 
Flanders, and with the exception of absences on two or three 
occasions, when he spent two or three years in Stoneham 
and Lynn, Mass., he resided in Benton until his death, Jan. 
7, 1896, at the age of 73. He was a carpenter and joiner 
by trade, but in his later years he followed farming, owning 
the Israel Flanders farm. For years he was chorister and 
leader of the Benton choir, a position in which he took great 
pride, and in which, while he occupied it, he never permitted 
his authority to be questioned without a ruction, and there 
were sometimes ructions. From 1843 till his death, thirty- 
five years and more later, William Eastman was one of the 
best known citizens of the town. He had been unsuc- 
cessful in business in Lisbon, and unfortunate in a love 
affair, and he came to Benton and built a clapboard mill 
near the dwelling house of Amo3 Whitcher on Whitcher 
brook in "the Hollow," and here for a period of nearly 
thirty years he manufactured spruce clapboards. He never 
married, though until late in life he talked much of taking 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 87 

to himself a wife when he found the right person. He 
built himself a good house, one of the best in town, fin- 
ished it completely, but occupied it alone for many years, 
cooking his simple meals himself. This was not because he 
was averse to society, for no man was fonder of it than he, 
and no one was more welcome in the social circles of young 
people than "Uncle Billy" with his violin. He was a fine 
bass singer, and for years was always to be found in the 
choir gallery on Sundays, where he used to sing, as he ex- 
pressed it, "with the spirit and the understanding also." 
He had a song reciting the old time campmeeting experi- 
ences which he was sometimes persuaded to sing to the great 
delight of his audiences, and there are many elderly people 
who recall the delight with which they listened to "Uncle 
Billy's" description of "the bumble bee with his tail cut off." 
His clapboard mill gave him a profitable business, and he 
would have become a comparatively wealthy man had he in- 
vested with care and prudence the profits of his business, but, 
himself the soul of honor, he found it difficult to believe that 
any of his fellow men were dishonest, and he became the 
easy prey of the designing and unscrupulous. His old age 
was one of poverty and hardship, ill deserved after his long 
life of simple, plain living and unremitting toil. He 
died Aug. 6, 1879, in his 86th year. Poor "Uncle Billy" ! 
Edwin Tyler, son of Kimball, and Jesse M. Brown, son 
of John, became voters in 1845, but soon left town, the 
former going to Massachusetts, and the latter seeking his 
fortunes in Michigan. Burton French also lived in town for 
two or three years, and his thousand and more large sugar 
maples to the east of Tunnel stream on the side of Moosi- 
lauke, were for many years one of the famous sugar camps of 
the section. He married Eliza, daughter of Jeremiah B. 



88 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

and Susan (Tyler) Davis, and lived later on a small farm 
near French pond in Haverhill. Other new comers were 
Ambrose Merrill, William Bacon, Samuel Randall, Jona- 
than Hunkings, Joseph Whiteman and Nicholas Whiteman. 
William Bacon, better known as "Bill" Bacon, was long 
remembered for a prayer he offered in a protracted meeting 
the night of his conversion. He and a chum of his, Ben 
Elliott, rough fellows of the ungodly sort, came to the 
meeting to scoff, but, as it turned out, remained to pray. 
"Bill" got under deep conviction, went to the mourner's 
bench, was converted and immediately became anxious con- 
cerning his friend Ben, and prayed for him thus : "O Lord, 
there is a great sinner here to-night, Ben Elliott ; if he dies 
before morning he'll surely go to hell, which favor we ask, 
Amen." Ben was converted that same night. Jonathan 
Hunkings came from the southern part of the state, and set- 
tled on the Tunnel stream to the south of the John C. Brown 
farm, where he erected a saw mill, cleared a farm and erected 
the house where the Parker House, a summer hotel, now 
stands. Mr. Hunkings was a man of good education, and 
was a valuable addition to the citizenship of the town. He 
was a Whig in politics, and afterwards a Republican, and 
though the town was overwhelmingly Democratic, he was 
frequently elected to town offices, serving as superintending 
school committee and selectman. Failing in health he sold 
his mill and farm about 1865 and removed to Haverhill, 
where he died Aug. 5, 1866, aged 67. Of his three sons 
Harvey A. died in early manhood, Joseph resided in La- 
conia, and Thomas H. removed west. A daughter, Clara J., 
married and removed to California, and another daughter, 
Olive A., the widow of James Page, still resides in town on 
the James J. Page homestead in the west part of the town. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 89 

In 1846 the new names on the voting list were : John G. 
Buswell, son of John Buswell, John L. Stevens, Sylvester 
Eastman, James Eastman, James A. Cox, son of James H. 
Cox, Daniel Burnham, Sewall Waterman, J. Dean Norris, 
Elijah Curtis and David Young, Jr. Sylvester Eastman 
was a grandson of Obadiah Eastman, a first settler. Ex- 
cept for a few years spent in northern New York he lived in 
Benton, first on a small farm on Howe hill, and later, until 
his death, Jan. 19, 1860, at the age of 45, in the house now 
owned and occupied by Orman L. Mann, He married 
Louisa, eldest daughter of William and Mary (Noyes) 
Whitcher, and of their three children, George E. resides at 
North Haverhill ; Ruth J. is the wife of Cnarles A. Veazey, 
of Benton, and William has always resided in town and has 
been active and prominent in town affairs, serving as town 
clerk, collector of taxes and selectman, and member of the 
Constitutional Convention of 1888. 

Myron Bailey, who became a voter in 1847, resided with 
his mother on the farm now owned by George Bailey. He 
married a daughter of Samuel Peters, of Haverhill, lived on 
the Peters farm for several years and removed to Bethlehem. 
David Clough came to town from Bath and lived during 
the latter part of his life on the farm lying on the road run- 
ning south-east from the Stephen C. Sherman farm. He 
died Sept. 27, 1865, at the age of 62. One son, Chester 
C. Clough married Marium, daughter of Jonas G. and An- 
gelina (Whiteman) Brown, lived for several years on a farm 
adjoining that of his father-in-law, but after the death of his 
wife removed to Lisbon, where he still resides. Another 
son, Merrill Clough, resides on the Lime Kiln road in Ha- 
verhill. The names of Elisha Clement, Samuel Angier, 
Jonathan Clement, Darius K. Davis, James P. Tyler and 



90 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Horace Ames also appear on the voting list in this year. 

In 1848 Thomas F. Cox, son of James H. Cox, Silas M. 
Welch, son of Jonathan Welch, and Daniel Whitcher be- 
came voters for the first time, and new comers in town whose 
names appeared on the voting list were : John W. White- 
man, Walter Mulliken, Horace Bailey, Willis Chase, John 
Webber, Moses McConnell, Wilson Weed, Calvin Bailey, 
Samuel Morrill, Lyman Page and Cornelius Carr. Daniel 
Whitcher was the ninth son of William and Mary (Noyes) 
Whitcher, and was an active personality in the affairs of the 
town during his residence there, and continued his activity 
in the towns of his subsequent residence, Landaff and Bath. 
He was born Jan. 20, 1827, and died in Bath in March, 
1894. On reaching his majority he associated himself with 
his father who then resided on the farm now owned by Birt 
Cox. They were also owners of a sawmill in Landaff on 
the Wild Ammonoosuc, where they afterwards lived, and 
where a hamlet grew up subsequently known as Whitcher- 
ville. A starch mill was built here, and Mr. Whitcher was 
for several years quite extensively engaged in the manufac- 
ture of potato starch, not only at this mill, but at several 
other mills, which he owned in part or wholly, in Bath and 
Haverhill. A tannery was also built which was in success- 
ful operation for several years, as was also a country store 
which he opened and conducted. He became the chief party 
in the litigation with the towns of Landaff and Bath over 
the petition for a highway down the Wild Ammonoosuc 
from the County road in Landaff to Swiftwater village in 
Bath, known as the "Bunga road" litigation, which ended 
successfully in the laying out and construction of the road in 
1860. This was perhaps the most famous road case ever 
known in northern New Hampshire, and there is little doubt 




Daniel Whitcher. 



CO YENTR Y—BEXTON, N. H. 91 

that the towns involved on the one hand, and the petitioners 
on the other, expended enough money in the fifteen years of 
litigation to have built the road two or three times over. 
The Bunga road controversy was a dominant factor in the 
politics of several towns for years, and much bitterness of 
feeling was engendered. Aside from this, however, Daniel 
Whitcher was a born litigant, and there was hardly a court 
docket for a period of a quarter of a century in which his 
name did not appear as plaintiff or defendant in one or more 
suits. He was always aggressive, resourceful, never a quit- 
ter, and usually a winner. Upon the decadence of the po- 
tato starch industry, and the abandonment of the tannery 
business he moved from Whitcherville to Bath, purchasing 
the large farm near "Rum Hill," and carried on an extensive 
lumber business until a short time before his death. He was 
interested in the affairs of the town, and was the prime mover 
in the establishment of the Unitarian church in Bath and in 
the erection of the house of worship. He was an ardent and 
devoted advocate of the Unitarian faith. In politics he was 
a Democrat. He represented Benton in the Legislature in 
1858 and 1859, his election each time being the result of a 
heated "Bunga road" campaign in which he won out by a 
single vote over the late George W. Mann. Later he rep- 
resented Landaff in the same body, after spending the en- 
ergy of years and much money in fighting that town in the 
Bunga road case, and its successful efforts to secure a divis- 
ion of the town. His business ventures were generally 
successful and lucrative, but he never became a wealthy man. 
Litigation is a costly luxury. He married Nancy R. Knight, 
the daughter of Mrs. Catherine Knight, who had become the 
eecond wife of his father, William Whitcher. They were 
the parents of nine children, five of whom are living. Four 



92 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

of the daughters are living in Massachusetts, and one, the 
wife of William V. Ashley, resides in Woodsville. 

Among the new voters in 1849 were Abel S. E. B. Davis, 
son of Nathan B. Davis ; Caleb Wells, son of Enos Wells ; 
Leonard J. Brown, son of Richard Brown ; and Wil- 
liam T. Torsey, son of Winthrop G. Torsey. The former 
remained but a few years in town, and removed to Indian- 
apolis, Ind., where he still resides. Leonard J. Brown, 
while retaining a voting residence in town until his father, 
as previously mentioned, removed to Bath, spent the most of 
his time in Concord, employed at his trade of stone cutter. 
William T. Torsey married first Irene, daughter of Jonathan 
and Lydia (Batchelder) Davis, and resided first on a farm 
adjoining that of his father, and then, until his death, in 
March, 1894, at the age of 66, on the farm on the East road 
now owned by Solomon J. Hutchins. He married second 
Hannah, widow of Noah C. Hutchins. He served several 
vears on the board of selectmen and filled various other town 
offices. Caleb Wells was a prominent figure in town affairs 
until his removal to Haverhill about 1869. He was edu- 
cated in the schools of the town, and at Newbury Seminary, 
and was active in church work, and in all other matters per- 
taininii to the social and educational welfare of the town. 
He was for many years superintending school committee, 
tax collector, and served several years on the board of select- 
men. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1867 
and 1868, and for a period of twenty years was one of the 
leading citizens of the town. Always interested in political 
matters he has taken prominent part in the affairs of his 
adopted town, serving on its board of selectmen, and is still 
one of the leaders of the Haverhill Democracy. He has the 
same untiring persistence which characterized his father in 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 93 

political matters, and his political opponents have learned 
that it is unsafe to leave him out of their reckoning in 
contests. 

The names of Daniel Wilson. Amos Wilson. Hezekiah 
Morse, Charles Gifford, Francis Dwyer, David Chase, Na- 
than Chase and Raymond Page appear this same year for 
the first time. Charles Gifford was of Scotch ancestry, and 
had all the Scotch thrift. He settled on a small farm on the 
hill road leading from the No. 5 school house. He was a 
rigid Presbyterian, a quiet, God fearing man of the old puri- 
tanical school. His eldest daughter, Mary, was the wife of 
Francis Dwyer, who came to town with him, and who re- 
sided at first on the farm on the old road to North Haverhill, 
now owned by Lucetta Tyler, of Stoneham, and whose large 
family of children were all born in Benton, but are now 
widely scattered. Francis Dwyer was for many years the 
only Irishman in this town, peopled by those of English 
blood. He spent some years in California, and on his re- 
turn purchased the farm now owned by George Bailey. 
Another daughter of Charles Gifford, Laura, married John 
W. Gray, of Easton. and a son, John O. Gifford, married 
a daughter of Myron S. Woodward, of Bath, and now re- 
sides in Haverhill. Daniel Wilson came to town from 
Franconia with his son Amos, and several of his large family 
besides his son Amos, subsequently became residents of the 
town. Until his family left town, about 1877, they resided 
on the farm lying to the north of the meeting house near 
Landaff line and now owned by Jane Fackney. Amos 
Wilson married Sallv, daughter of William and Marv 
(Noyes) Whitcher, who was born May 25. 1 >' 1 7 , and who 
died in 1893. Of their four children William F. and 
George M. are deceased, while Susan M.. the wife of 



94 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

James M. Spinney, and Alice S., wife ot John Noyes, reside 
in Woodsville. Amos Wilson is a man of simple tastes, of 
strict integrity, and devout piety. He makes his home with 
his daughter, Mrs. Spinney. 

In 1850 Charles B. Keyser, Moses W. Howe, David 
Whitcher and John Flanders, sons of early settlers, became 
voters. Charles B. Keyser married Mary, daughter of 
Jeremiah B. and Susan (Tyler) Davis, and settled on the 
farm at the base of Moosilauke formerly occupied by Wil- 
liam K. Bruce. He was a substantial citizen, and filled 
various town offices with credit and efficiency. David 
Whitcher, born June 17, 1828, is the youngest of the ten 
sons of William and Mary (Noyes) Whitcher, and the only 
one now living. On coming to his majority he entered into 
partnership with his brother Daniel. This, however, was of 
brief duration. He married Sally A. Noyes, daughter of 
Amos and Hulda Noyes, of LandafF, and purchasing a 
farm near North Haverhill village, devoted himself to farm- 
ing. He has been one of the most successful of North 
Country farmers. A few years since he purchased the Na- 
thaniel M. Swasey estate in North Haverhill, where he has 
since resided, and some six years since retired from active 
farming and now devotes himself to caring for his large in- 
vestments. He is a man of decided convictions, religious 
and political, which he never hesitates to avow. He has 
never been a candidate for public office, and has devoted 
himself during his long life to proving that farming in New 
Hampshire can be made to pay. Of his two children, the 
eldest, a son, died at the age of eleven, and his daughter, 
Mrs. Hattie Blanche Sanborn, resides with her three chil- 
dren near her parents in North Haverhill. He is a frequent 
visitor to his native town, in which he takes a deep interest, 





David Whitcher. 



Prescott Parker. 



■n^HH 




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f ^ 




^V 








^jdi B^B 






V ff 




vj{, 1 




Rr 




Ezra B. Mann. 



(i. Henry Mann. 



CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, N. H. 95 

though strongly of the opinion that while it is a good town 
in which to be born, it is also a good town from which to 
emigrate. 

James M. Harriman was the eon of James and Ruth 
(Pike) Harriman, and he spent much of his life in town 
at High Street, though living for a few years at East 
Haverhill, where he followed the business of blacksmith. 
In his later residence in town he lived on the William C. 
Bixby farm, served on the board of selectmen, and died in 
"Warren, July 19, 1898, at the age of 70. Jonathan B. and 
Ansel Stickney purchased what is known as the A. L. 
Warren farm on the Meadows at the foot of Owl's Head, 
and were prominent and useful citizens while remaining in 
town. They returned to Warren about the year 1860. 
William Carpenter came to North Benton from Bath with 
his son Emery B. Carpenter, and the Carpenter family 
formed quite an element in the population for several years. 
Emery B. Carpenter remained in town several years, clearing 
a farm which is now abandoned and covered with forest, 
about midway between the Hollow on Whitcher brook and 
the Stowe place. For several years there was a laid out 
highway between these locations, but it has long since been 
discontinued. Of the sons of Emery B. Carpenter, Moses B. 
resides in Haverhill ; Calvin J. in Landaff, and Chester has 
been for many years in the employ of the Boston & Maine 
railroad and lives at Fabyan. A daughter of William 
Carpenter, Adeline, married John P. Cox, and of their two 
children, Edward L., who became town clerk for two or 
three years, is deceased, and Roberto C, known as "Birt" 
Cox, resides in town on the farm formerly owned by David 
Marston and William AVhitcher. Alonzo Carpenter mar- 
ried a daughter of Daniel Howe, and removed to Stoneham, 



96 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Mass., and Charles Carpenter, Jr., after a few years' resi- 
dence in town, removed to Haverhill. Hiram King, a 
brother of Russell King, of Haverhill, lived on a farm in the 
Page district which subsequently passed into the possession 
of Ex-Governor John Page, of Haverhill. Randall Hill 
and Lafayette Hill were new comers on the Meadows 
in 1850. 

The list of new names on the voting list of 1850 was quite 
a lengthy one : Nelson B. Carter, Amos G. Torsey, Jona 
Hale Marston, George Wells, Nathan C. and Nathaniel H. 
Stow (the Stow twins), William P. Siddons, Darius Clough, 
Robert Dwyer, Aaron Hand, John P. Cox, Nathaniel 
French, Moses P. Bus well, Bartlett Welch, and Henry 
Kimball. Some of these have been already mentioned. 
Nelson B, Carter married a daughter of Richard Brown, and 
went west. Amos G. Torsey, a son ot Capt. Winthrop G. 
and Theodosia Torsey, married Elizabeth, daughter of Levi 
Brooks and settled on a small farm later owned for many 
years by Ephriam Cooley. He served for several years as 
superintending school committee, was engaged in teaching 
winters, but died of consumption in May 1857, at the age 
of 27. Jona. Hale Marston was the youngest son of Jona- 
than and Phebe Howe Marston. He married Lucy Thurs- 
ton, a stepdaughter of Amos Woodward, who came to Ben- 
ton from Northern New York in 1852 and settled on the 
homestead farm ot his father. A few years later he sold his 
farm to James A. Cox and removed to New York and later 
to the far west. George Wells, born March 18, 1828, was 
the second son of Enos and Sally Wells. He married Car- 
oline, a daughter of Jacob Morse, of Haverhill, and settled 
on a farm on the South road near that of his father. He 
removed to Haverhill about 1865, where he is still living, 



00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N.H. 97 

a prosperous farmer. While in Benton he served as town 
clerk and selectman, and was one of the most useful citizens 
of the town. William P. Siddons, an Englishman, a tailor 
by trade, lived for several years on the South road, on the 
first farm to the south of that of Samuel C. Annis. His 
wife was a Clark, a sister of the wife of Capt. Enos Wells, 
who, after the death of Mr. Siddons, married John Hyde, 
who lived on the Meadows. There were several daughters 
in the Siddons family, one of whom, Jane, married George 
Tyler, the youngest son of Kimball Tyler, and another, 
Eliza, was the first wife of Charles S. Newell, of Haverhill. 
Darius Clough, a brother of David, came from Bath, and 
lived for a few years on a farm adjoining that of his brother. 
Robert Dwyer, a brother of Francis, lived on a farm lying 
to the south of the Bath road. The boys of that day who 
are now living have pleasant recollections of Robert Dwyer's 
orchard. It bore fine fruit, and Robert did not always har- 
vest the entire crop. Aaron Hand and his family lived for 
two or three years, a hand-to-mouth existence, on the Abra- 
ham Norris farm. Aaron was shiftless. He preferred going 
fishing to work. He promised work for his neighbors in ex- 
change for provisions, but was laggard in the fulfillment of 
promises. Mrs. Hand always insisted that Aaron would pay 
when time and health permitted, and her frequent assertion 
that "Aaron's word is God's truth," became a proverb. 
John P. Cox, who married Adaline Carpenter, was an hon- 
est, hard working man, but one who lacked the faculty of 
getting ahead. He lived in town, for the most of the time 
on the road from the "Hollow" to the Stow farm, until his 
death in March 1876, at the age of 64. His widow was 
twice remarried, and died in Woodsville, in August 1890, 
at the age of 70. Moses P. Buswell, son of John Buswell, 



98 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

spent much of his life in town engaged in farming, but in 
later years has lived in Haverhill. Henry Kimball lived in 
the High Street district, but remained in town only a short 
time. 

The check list for 1852 shows quite a lengthy list of new 
comers and new voters. Of the latter there were Truman 
Gray, James Gannett, George Tyler, William H. Annis 
and Enos C. Wells. Other names were Samuel Pike, Wil- 
liam Sampson, John Dunlap, John Hyde, Moses Hyde, 
William Hyde, Sumner Hardy, Samuel A. Mann, Charles 
M. Howe, John Russell, Stephen C. Sherman and James C. 
Sherman. Truman Gray was a brother of the wife of 
Emery B. Carpenter. He wished to marry Sarah, the eldest 
daughter of Samuel Howe, but was forced by the opposition 
of her parents to relinquish his hopes, and removed to Mass- 
achusetts with his brother John, who was also a resident of 
Benton for a brief period, where he has since resided. 
Sarah Howe married Parker Swasey, of Hardwick, Vt., 
who was killed in 1864 in the battle of the Wilderness. 
She remained a widow until some four years since, when she 
again met Truman Gray whose wife had died shortly be- 
fore, and they were married after a separation of nearly 
forty years, and now reside in Cambridge, Mass. William 
H. Annis, the son of Joseph and Betsey (Currier) Annis, 
went to Lynn, Mass., and later to Groton, Vt., where he 
died in 1897, at the age of 65. George Tyler was the 
youngest son of Kimball and Sally (Streeter) Tyler. After 
the death of his father he built a new house on the old home- 
stead, and resided there most of the time till about 1864, 
when, after the sudden death of his two children from ma- 
lignant diptheria, he disposed of his property and went to 
Massachusetts. Enos C. Wells, the youngest son of Capt. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 99 

Enos Wells, purchased the Siddons place, and married 
Annette, the daughter of Jacob Morse, of Haverhill. They 
remained in town, however, but a few years, when they re- 
moved to Lynn, Mass. John Hyde with his sons, Moses 
and William, settled on the Meadows, but the sons remained 
but a short time. John Hyde was at one time a large land 
owner. He married for his second wife the widow of Wil- 
liam P. Siddons. He became a convert to the Second Ad- 
ventist faith, and became insane the year following the war, 
and after his release from the New Hampshire Asylum re- 
moved from town. The farm known as the Hyde farm is 
now owned by Peter Bolieau. Charles M. Howe settled on 
the hill near Haverhill line, and had quite a large family of 
daughters and one son, Charles H. Howe, who enlisted in 
the Eleventh regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, and 
died of disease while in the service. Charles M. Howe was 
not a man of prepossessing appearance, but his loyalty and 
devotion to the Republican party was beyond question. 
During his twenty years residence in town his party »vas 
small in numbers, and in the factional Democratic contests 
over the selection of town officers, and representative to the 
General Court, the Republicans in close contests lined up 
with the Democratic factions, as friendship and other consid- 
erations dictated, all except "Uncle Charley." Deaf to the 
most potent appeals he would persist in the closest of con- 
tests, in voting for Charles M. Howe, on the ground that he 
was the only Republican whom he could trust. Stephen C. 
Sherman came to Benton from Lisbon with his son James 
C. Sherman, and purchased the farm on the East road to 
the west of that now occupied by Solomon Hutchins. Later, 
after his son James C. moved to Manchester, he sold this 
and purchased the Kimball Tyler homestead where George 

LOFC. 



100 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Tyler had lived. Mr. Sherman had seen service in the war 
of 1812, was fond of political discussion, in fact, any kind 
of discussion. He was never known to assent to the opin- 
ions of others, his standard remark being, "Well, I dunno, 
that is a question." He was a regular attendant at religious 
services, and greatly prized his position as teacher in Sunday 
school of a bible class of middle aged women. The mem- 
bers of his class used to say, "Mr. Sherman is a deep bible 
scholar", but it never appeared that he did anything except 
to talk platitudes and fire biblical conundrums at the simple 
minded, but good, women. 

The next year, 1853, found William C. Bixby, Caleb 
Morse, George Brown, Amos Woodward, John W. Mulliken, 
Nathaniel Mulliken and Nelson F. Noyes in town, and 
Timothy E. Howe, son of Daniel Howe, became a voter. 
He soon afterward removed to Lisbon where he engaged 
in the boot and shoe business and became a successful busi- 
ness man. Caleb Morse was a brother of William F. Morse, 
and was engaged with him as a blacksmith until both left 
town a little later. George Brown established himself for a 
few years on the South road, and was the pioneer in distill- 
ing spruce oil, an industry that later became quite an im- 
portant one. He remained in town, however, but a few 
years. Amos Woodward came from the northern part of 
New York, built himself a log house and cleared a farm to 
the north of the Stow farm and engaged quite extensively in 
the burning of charcoal. After a few years residence in 
town he returned to New York, and none of his large family 
of children remained in tdwn. Two of his sons, Hiram and 
George, enlisted in New Hampshire regiments and rendered 
valuable services during the war of the Rebellion. Nelson 
F. Noyes, the eldest son of Moses Noyes, of Haverhill, who 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, JST. H. 101 

married Polly, the eldest daughter of Daniel Howe, married 
Hannah Flanders, but shortly afterwards removed to Haver- 
hill. Walter Mulliken had come from Haverhill some two 
or three years earlier, and he was followed this year by his 
father, John W. Mulliken, and his brothers, Nathaniel and 
George W. Walter remained in town but a few years, but 
his father remained until his death, about 1863, and Nathan- 
iel and George for several years later. The Mullikens es- 
tablished themselves to the north of the William K. Bruce 
or Charles B. Keyser farm next to Landaff line, but the 
buildings are now in ruins and the farm is for the most part 
now grown up to forest. George W. Mulliken is now a 
resident of Haverhill. William C. Bixby was a member of 
a Warren family, and one of five brothers who entered the 
christian ministry. One of his brothers, Moses H., became 
a leading clergyman in the Baptist denomination, and an- 
other was a successful Congregational pastor in Massachu- 
setts, but William C. adhered to the Methodist faith of his 
parents. He never united with an annual conference, but 
was ordained both deacon and elder, and supplied Methodist 
pulpits for several years before settling down on his High 
Street farm, the one now owned by De Elden Tibbets. He 
was a man of devout piety, and of more than ordinary intel- 
lectual ability, but he suffered from physical peculiarities 
which perhaps prevented him from entering the conference 
as a traveling minister. 

Chester Spooner became a voter in town in 1854, and was 
a resident for several years at intervals until his death some 
time about 1880, at the age of upwards of 90 years. Two 
of his sons subsequently became residents of the town, Wil- 
liam tor a few years, and Alonzo, who still resides in the 
town in the Hollow. Several of the sons of Alonzo Spooner 



102 SOME T1I1XGS ABOUT 

have also at various times lived in town, Daniel, Horace and 
Oscar. William Merrill and Abraham Taylor were the 
owners ot the sawmill on the Oliverian, just south of the 
Meadows, and Jacob M. White, who spent two or three 
years in town before removing to Landaff, lived on the farm 
which had been previously occupied by David M. Howe. 
"March" White, as he was tamiliarlv known, had a largfe 
family of children, tour sons: Emery B., now living in 
Stoneham, Mass. : Edwin, who removed to Washington 
Territory; John, who resides in Lawrence, Mass., and 
Charles, who lives in Stoneham, Mass. His four daughters, 
Laura, Ann, Mary and Susan, all reside in Mass. Mr. 
White was a man ot good education, and maintained 
an active interest in the political and other questions of the 
day. In 1855 he was one of the active spirits in the Native 
American or Know Nothing movement. Jonas Hurlbut 
built himself a log house and cleared a few acres of land on 
Coburn hill to the west ot the David Clough farm, but was 
employed for the most ot the time in the sawmills of the 
town. He remained but a tew years. Other new voters 
this year were C. T. Cogswell, Josiah Downey, Walter Pike, 
Clifton S. Mardin, Moody Styles and Nathan Blodgett, the 
latter living near the Haverhill line on the road leading: 
north-east from the Meadows. 

In 1855 there was quite an addition to the list of ratable 
polls, many of these being employes connected with the 
charcoal kilns which were built near East Haverhill after the 
opening of the Boston, Concord & Montreal railroad. Most 
of these were not voters, but among those entitled to vote 
were : William Sampson, L. W. Parker, Chase S. Cawlev, 
Benjamin Cummings, William Hart well, Joseph Place and 
Franklin Butler. Calvin Corliss settled this year in the 



COVEXTIiY—BEXTOX. X. H. 

west part of the town. Horace W. Gordon came from Lan- 
daff, married Lucinda C. , daughter of Amos Whitcher, and 
lived in town for some ten y : uently removing 

oneham, Mass., where he lived until his death. Eli- 
sha Hibbard came from Haverhill, and established himself 
as a blacksmith in the Hollow, where he lived for several 
II - wife, by hi= first marriage, was a daughter of 
John anc lirown. Janet GrL zier came from Haver- 

hill, and established the but wheel-wright in the 

Hollow. HLs wife was Almira Elliott. Their eldest daugh- 
ter. Alma, is the wife of Charles Clark, of Haverhill ; an- 
other daughter, Alice, is the wife of Thomas E. Taylor, of 
\\ Winnie married Fred Aldrich, of Haverhill, 
and a son, t: Bart J. Glazier, is a clergyman of the 

Adventist faith. Amo- C. Mann became a voter in town 
for the first time this year. 

The new names on the voting list in 1856 are those of 

-:er Cor.--. J ghna Howard, Daniel 

Spaulding, William R. Park, Albert Buswell, Alonzo 

ner, Arthur Knapp. William Caswell, Daniel W. 
Brown, Thomas H. Hur.k:r.z-. Henry Fuller. Prescott 
Parker and Prescott Parker, Jr. Daniel W. Brown died in 
1859, at the a^e of 25. and Thomas H. Hunkinjrs remained 
in town but a few years. All the others named, except the 
Parkers, may be properly classed as transient-. Pr - tl 
Parker and Prescott Parker, Jr., came from Lyman, and 
purchased the farm on which "March" White was then liv- 
ing and remained there until they purchased the farm on 
whi,h Lebina H. Parker now lives in the corner of the town 
adjoining Haverhill and Landaff. P tl Parker. Jr.. 

was an industrious, thrifty man and became one of the most 
useful citizens of the town. He served for several vea: 



104 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



the board of selectmen and represented the town in the legis- 
lature in the years 1877-78. He died June 13, 1898, in his 
77th year. His widow survives him, residing with her son, 
Lebina H. Parker. One son, Frank C, lives in Lisbon, 
and a daughter, Dora, lives with her mother and brother. 

The new voters in 1857 were Roswell L. Cady, William 
Swain, Ezra C. Winchester, Charles M. Badger, Elisha C. 
Durant, William Harden, James B. Clark and Morin 
Knight. William Harden came from East Haverhill, and 
lived for a few years in the Hollow at North Benton, where 
he carried on blacksmithing. A few years later he removed 
to Canada but subsequently returned to Benton where he 
lived till his death. A stepdaughter married William H. 
Burnham. He had three daughters. One married Fred P. 
Burnham, of Bath ; another Charles Hutchins, of Woods- 
ville, and another, Solomon J. Hutchins, who lives on the 
William T. Torsey farm in Benton. Moren Knight lived 
for several years with his brother-in-law, Daniel Whitcher, 
but later married and removed to Landaff, where he still 
resides. Otis Brooks came to town in 1858, and remaining: 

o 

for several years, being engaged in the sawmills of the town, 
but later removed first to Easton, then to Franconia. Wes- 
ley B. Davis, the eldest son of Jeremiah B. and Susan 
(Tyler) Davis returned to Benton after an absence of several 
years in Massachusetts, and soon after was ordained a min- 
ister in the Advent denomination. His ministerial career 
was, however, brief, and in the early sixties he went west, 
and little, if anything authentic, was heard of him after- 
wards. Benjamin H. Tyrell also became a resident of the town 
in the latter part of 1857 or early in 1858, and lived for 
several years on the hill near Charles M. Howe. Later he 
lived in the High Street section. He was employed in lum- 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 105 

bering, and had a large family of children, none of whom 
now live in town. Ephraim Cooley came from Sugar Hill. 
His wife was Adaline, a daughter of Daniel Wilson. He 
purchased a small farm to the east of the meeting house, 
where he lived until his death in 1897, at the age of 83. A 
son, Holman D., died in 1892, at the age of 49, and his 
eldest daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of Byron Bailey, of 
Woodsville. His youngest daughter, Myra, married Den- 
nison B. Davis, and died in 1881, at the age of 26. 

Joseph Nudd, Stephen Perkins, Charles Jacobs and John 
Burbank settled in the south part of the town in 1859, and 
Lorenzo T. Davis, Chester C. Clough and Leonard Moody 
became voters in the north part. Russell Kimball, with his 
son-in-law, Curtis Fletcher, came from Haverhill, and lived 
a few years on the John C. Brown farm on Tunnel stream. 

There were four new comers in 1860. Darius dough 
came from Bath, and settled near his brother, David Clough, 
but after a little returned to Bath. Alden E. Hurlburt came 
from Haverhill, and was for several years a resident of the 
town. Henry A. Glazier also came from Haverhill, mar- 
ried Elizabeth, a daughter of Benjamin H. Tyrell, and pur- 
chased the Samuel C. Annis farm near the meeting house. 
Daniel Spooner, Horace L. Carr, Stephen Marston, George 
Wilson, George W. Mulliken and Rufus W. Howe, sons of 
residents became voters for the first time this year. 

The population of the town in 1860 was 494, the largest 
reached by any census taken. The vote cast for Governor 
and representative to the General Court was 103, which had 
never been exceeded except in 1858, when the vote was 109, 
and in 1859, when the vote was 111. But these were two 
of the four famous Bunga Road years when there was the bit- 
terest of contests between George W. Mann and Daniel 



106 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Whitcher for the legislative honors. In 1857 the vote was 
103 ; in 1861 it was 103, but thenceforward it diminished. 
It is perhaps safe to say that the town reached the height of 
its prosperity in 1860. A glance at the different dis- 
tricts or sections of the town with the names of the residents 
of each section will be of interest. 

In school district No. 1, or the High Street neighborhood, 
so called, there were, naming the families in order from 
Warren line, those of James M. Harriman, William C. 
Bixby, Bartlett Welch, Joseph Nudd, Silas M. Welch, 
Chester Spooner, John Lathrop, and Josiah F. Jeffers. 
The David Dickey farm was not then occupied, and the 
Eljah Gray farm was abandoned. On the Meadows, in 
school district No. 2, following the road from Warren line 
to Haverhill line, there were : Jonathan and Ansel Stickney, 
Melinda Place, Nancy Pike and her son, Walter F. Pike, 
John Hyde, E. Hill and his sons, Randall and Lafayette, 
John and Moses P. Buswell and Nathan Blodgett. In 
"the Page Neighborhood", or in school district No. 3, there 
were, following the road from Haverhill line, Ephraim 
Cross, James J. and James Page, John Burbank, Corne- 
lius and Horace L. Carr, Chester Corliss and Daniel D. 
Page. Hiram King, who had lived for some years on the 
Gov. John Page farm, had left a year or two before, and 
the farm was unoccupied, but Jeremy Titus had erected a 
sawmill to the north of Sugar Loaf, which he was then op- 
erating, though his house was just over the line in Haverhill. 

In North Benton in school district No. 5 the residents 
were : from Haverhill town line on the Swiftwater road to 
the school house, Prescott Parker, Prescott Parker, Jr., 
George W. Mann, Mrs. Louisa Eastman and Amos Wilson ; 
from the school house on the Haverhill road to the Haverhill 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 107 

town line, Charles C. Tyler, Moses W. Howe, and Francis 
Dwyer ; from the school house on the road up Howe hill, 
so called, Charles Gifford, Daniel Howe, Daniel M. Howe, 
Alden E Hurlbutt, Samuel Howe, Peter Howe 2nd, Charles 
M. Howe and James B. Clark ; from the school house to 
and including "the Hollow", the eastern boundary of the 
district, Daniel Whitcher, Peter Howe, James Norris, Ira 
Whitcher, Chase Whitcher, Elisha Hibbard, John E. Key- 
ser, William Eastman, Amos Whitcher, William Harden 
and Samuel C. Annis ; and on the road up the brook, John 
P. Cox. In district No. 4 Henry A. Glazier on the Annis 
farm west of the meeting house ; Ephraim Cooley on the 
east, and Daniel and George Wilson on the north ; on the 
South road, so called, Enos C. Wells, David M. Norris, 
Horace W. Gordon, Caleb Wells, George Wells, Enos 
Wells, the Stow farm unoccupied, James A. Cox, Orrin, 
Samuel E. and Stephen B. Marston ; on the road leading 
easterly from James A. Cox's, James H. and Thomas F. 
Cox, Bartlett Marston, William T. Torsey, and Gilbert P. 
Wright. In district No. 6, Winthrop G. Torsey, Jeremiah 
B. Davis, George Tyler and James C. Sherman, (on a road 
southerly) David Clough, William Davis, Jonathan Davis, 
Joseph Hutchins, Noah C. Hutchins, Jonas G. Brown, 
David Bowman, William Keyser, James H. Keyser, 
Russell Kimball, Curtis Fletcher, Jonathan Hunkings, 
Charles B. Keyser, John W. Mulliken and Nathaniel Mul- 
liken ; from No. 6 school house southerly, Israel Flanders, 
Lafayette W. Flanders, Asa Merrill and John Flanders. 

In the decade from 1860 to 1870 most of the new comers 
in town were but transient residents, and the most of the 
young men on reaching their majority, or a little later, left 
for other localities, as did also many of the older residents 



108 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

who had been active in the affairs of the town. Benjamin 
F. and Ashael L. Warren purchased the Stickney farm on 
the Meadows in 1860 and for a number of years were prom- 
inent in town matters. A. L. Warren was a most success- 
ful farmer. He removed to Haverhill about 1883, where 
he still resides on a farm near Pike. The Rev. George W. 
Richardson came to North Benton in 1860 and remained 
for two years, pastor of the Free Will Baptist society, occu- 
pying the pulpit of the Union Meeting house on alternate 
Sundays with the Methodist preacher. Elder Richardson's 
disquisitions on Old Testament history were something great. 
He came from Vershire, Vt., and went from Benton to 
East Tilton. James H. Keyser, son of William Keyser, 
who had left home some years before, returned about the 
year 1860, and took up his residence with his father. He 
built a sawmill on Tunnel stream and engaged j n the lum- 
ber business until the lumber lands in that section of the 
town were sold to the Fall Mountain Paper Co. Since then 
Mr. Keyser has given his entire time to farming, and has 
served the town in various capacities as tax collector, town 
clerk and selectman. William Spooner, Daniel Hoyt, 
James Buswell, George Corliss, Charles Howe, son of 
Charles M., John Harris, Laban T. Davis, son of Jeremiah 
B., Frank Oakes, and John E. Oakes were new voters in 
1861, and in 1862 the following new names appeared on 
the check list : Henry Whitcher, a son of Winthrop C. and 
Mercy (Noyes) Whitcher, Franklin Ferguson, Prescott 
Blake, Warren Blake, Henry Hutchins, son of Lucius, Ar- 
thur Wilson, son of Daniel, Stephen Marston, son of Orrin, 
Moody Howland, John Copp and Benjamin Hatch. Pres- 
cott Blake purchased a farm in the Page district which he 
occupied for some years, and Benjamin Hatch came from 




James H. Keysek. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 109 

East Haverhill and leased the Daniel Whitcher farm on the 
removal of Mr. Whitcher to Whitcherville in Landaff. 

New names on the list in 1863 were those of Marcellus 
M. Davis, son of John C, Nathan Blodgett, Jr., Wesley 
Marston, son of Bartlett, Merrill Clough, son of David, 
Philemon P. Oakes, Lyman Bemis, George E. Brown, son 
of Jonas G., George W. Mulliken, son of John W., Amos 
C. Mann, Kirk Bowles, William Bliss and Sherburn Glea- 
son. William Bliss came from North Haverhill, and leased 
the blacksmith shop in "the Hollow." Sherburn Gleason 
entered the employ of Chase Whitcher, while Amos C. Mann 
purchased the farm on Tunnel stream which had been oc- 
cupied for a few years by Russell Kimball. 

In 1864 the new names appearing on the list were those 
of John E. French, Taylor P. Blake, son of Prescott, Jere- 
miah A. Clark, William H. Weld, R. Clement Clough, 
Charles H. Whitcher, son of Amos, George E. Eastman, 
son of Sylvester and Louisa, and Francis A. Brooks. 
Charles H. Whitcher married Minerva, daughter of David 
and Hannah Bowman, purchased the blacksmith shop, and 
the house adjoining that of his father, but about 1872 re- 
moved to Stoneham, Mass., where he resided until his death. 
He was elected town clerk on reaching his majority, and 
served for several years. George E. Eastman remained a 
resident but a short time. He married Rebecca Bronson 
and removed to Bath, and later to North Haverhill, where 
he still resides. Holman D. Cooley, son of Ephraim, and 
Joshua Page, son of Daniel D., were voters for the first 
time in 1865, and other new names on the list were those of 
Charles W. Winchester, John E. Oakes, who married 
Mary, a daughter of Daniel Wilson, Cornelius Dwyer, Ed- 
ward P. Devlin and George W. Bemis. The latter, with 



110 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

his brothers, Lyman aud Moses P., purchased the Jonathan 
Hunkings property and engaged in the lumber business. 
The two brothers remained with him but a short time, and 
he carried on the business alone until about 1860, when he 
disposed of it to J. G. Ramsdell. Martha, a sister of 
George W. Bemis, married Philemon P. Oakes. None of 
the Bemis family are now in town. Moses P. resides in 
Haverhill. Cornelius Dwyer, a brother of Francis, came 
from Benton and purchased the Daniel Whitcher farm. 
Cornelius had spent nearly all his life at sea, and was hardly 
what would be called a scientific farmer. Some of his neigh- 
bors took advantage of his inexperience and sold him farm 
stock at what were most emphatically war prices. Corne- 
lius also engaged in the liquor traffic, but possessing him- 
self an inordinate love of "the craythur" he did not gather 
riches to himself by this means. He returned to Boston 
after some three years, having perhaps gained a little in his 
knowledge of agriculture, considerably more in experience 
in trading in oxen and other live stock, but poorer by far in 
earthly possessions. Hie methods of farming furnished 
amusement for the boys. 

James M. Copp, a local preacher of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, whose family had resided for many years 
in Haverhill, married Marietta, daughter of Josiah F. and 
Asenath (Wright) Jeffers, and came to reside with Mr. 
Jeffers, preaching on Sundays in surrounding towns. On 
the death of the latter, in September 1866, he combined the 
lumber business with his ministerial labors, the result of 
which was that the small property which had been accumu- 
lated by his father-in-law was nearly all lost to his family. 
Mr. Copp was not a Whitefield as a preacher, and was still 
less a success as a business man. Willard W. Coburn, who 



00 VESTR T—BEXTOX. X. H. Ill 

had lived as a boy in the family of Jonas G. Brown, and 
whose daughter, Clara, he married became a voter this year, 

. and continued to reside in Benton on the J. G. B 
farm, engrajringr also in the lumber bonnen I r some ~ 
after Mr. Brown had removed to Haverhill. He was active 
in town affair- - red as selectman, and filled various other 
town offices. His brother, Ransom Coburn, who married 

nia, daughter of Jonas G. Brown, was later associated 
with him in business. Both removed from town about 
1*74. Xathan Blodget and his son, Xathan, Jr., left town 
in 1866, and their farm was purchased by W. T. Bowen. 

^ew names appearing on the voting list in 1867 
those of "Winthrop C. Whitcher, son of Amos, Edward F. 
Mann, son of George W., William F. Whitcher, son of Ira, 
and Harrison Day. None of these became permanent pen- 
dents, though Edward F. Mann retained a voting residence 
there until his marriage in 1881. Winthrop C. Whitcher 
graduated at the New Hampton Institute, was for several 
years a licensed minister ot the Free Will Baptist denomi- 
nation. He went to Stoneham, Mass., about 1873, liere 

ill resides, en^aoed in the jrrocerv business, and is an 
active and devoted layman of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Other new names on the voting list were : John 
G. Howe, Nathaniel Clark. Charles House. Biehard Drown 
and John Crimmings. The latter purchased the Xancy Pike 
farm on the Meadows, which is now owned and occupied by 
his son, James Crimmini - -. New voters in 1*6* were: 
John A. True, Edward M. True, John Page, son of Daniel 
D.. Moses Clough, Tristram Hartwell. Castanus Marston, 
son of Orrin, Orrin Eastman, Thomas Stacy, Fredrick 
S. Howe, son of Samuel, Isaac H. Tyler, Hiram Bowen, 
Henr;- M. Whiteman and Joseph Pond. The True brothers 



112 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

resided in the Page district, and participated actively in 
town affairs. Tristram Hart well lived on the George Wells 
place, and Orrin Eastman and family lived with his relative 
William Eastman in "the Hollow." John L. Stevens mar- 
ried the widow of Bartlett Welch, and resided on the Welch 
farm at High Street. 

The new voters in 1869 were : Marcellus Tyrell, son of 
Benjamin H., James Crimmings, son of John, Geo. Henry 
Mann, son of George W., Spafford W. Cowan, Charles 
Collins, Charles Clark, son of Jeremiah A., David Wright, 
son of Gilbert P., Parker Bancroft, James E. Whitcher, 
son of Amos, Edward L. Cox, son of John P., Ransom 
Coburn and S. H. Chamberlin. James Crimmings is the 

© 

only one of these now residing in town. James E. Whitcher 
removed to Stoneham, Mass., engaging in the grocery busi- 
ness until his death in 1881. He was prominent in town 
affairs there, twice representing the town in the Massachu- 
setts legislature, and serving on the board of selectmen. 
Geo. Henry Mann entered the employ of the B. &. M. rail- 
road, and resides in Woodsville. E. L. Cox lived in town 
until his death, and was for two or three years town clerk. 
Charles Collins came from Haverhill, and purchased the 
Charles Gifford farm. He was a veteran of the Civil war. 
Both he and his wife, a daughter of Eli Pike, of Haverhill, 
are now deceased. In 1870 the only new voters were : 
Austin Willey, George W. Annis, son of Samuel C, 
Charles A. Veazey, Clifton Pike and Hiram Scales. Charles 
A. Veazey married Ruth J., daughter of Sylvester and 
Louisa (Whitcher) Eastman, and purchased the Amos Wil- 
son farm near the No. 5 school house, where he lived until 
he removed to "the Hollow", where he still resides, engaged 

* ' © © 

in a "general store" business, while Mrs. Veazsy is post- 



GO VENTRY— BENTON, N H. 113 

mistress. His son, William D. Veazey, graduated at New 
Hampton Institute, studied law in the office of Charles 
F. Stone, of Laconia, and is in the active practice of his 
profession in that city, a member of the firm of Jewell, 
Owen & Veazey. He has thrice been elected solicitor for 
Belknap county, and holds that office at the present time. 
His daughter, Jennie, married W. A. Brown, and resides 
in Bellows Falls, Vt. The abandonment of farms had be- 
gun as this period closed, and the census of 1870 showed a 
decrease in population. The town had lost some of its best 
families by death or removal. Among those might be men- 
tioned the Stowes, the Browns, the Wellses, the Davises, 
with a single exception, and others were soon to follow. 
Benton farms were ceasing to have attractions for the young 
men as they came to the estate of manhood, and the lumber 
industry was becoming less and less profitable as railroads 
were extended into the forests of Coos and Carroll counties. 
Not all, by any means, who left town bettered themselves, 
but emigration had set in, and the places of those who left 
were hardly made good, either in numbers or in quality by 
new comers. 



114 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BENTON OF RECENT YEARS. 

In the last thirty years Benton has undergone the changes 
incident to the mountain towns of the state which are with- 
out railroad facilities, and which have not built up a summer 
resort business. The sale of the forest lands to the Winni- 
pesauke and Fall Mountain Paper companies put an end to 
the manufacture of lumber and the six saw mills which had 
done a flourishing business went into decay, were torn down, 
and the machinery was sold. The paper companies, indeed, 
began operations in the forests, but they imported their labor, 
adding nothing to the permanent prosperity of the town. 
On the contrary, the wholesale destruction of the forests 
materially decreased the town's material wealth and re- 
sources. The exodus of the representatives of the older 
families continued, and most of those who came in to take 
their places remained but a short time, or, remaining perma- 
nently, were lacking in the enterprise, thrift and energy of 
those who had gone. In the decade, 1870-1880, Ira, Chase 
and Amos Whitcher, Orrin, Bartlett, Samuel E. and Stephen 
Marston, Gilbert P. Wright, Jonathan Davis and James J. 
Pao-e were anions: those who removed from town, while death 
was busy in the ranks of the residents who had contributed 
to the prosperity of the town. Among these were Charles C. 
Tyler, John P. Cox, Peter Howe, Winthrop G. Torsey, 
Samuel A. Mann, Amos C. Mann, and Ara Smith. 

Charles C. Tyler was one of the characters of the town. 
He married, before reaching his majority, Diana Bishop, and 
they were parents of eleven children, all of whom, save one, 




William D. Veazey. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 115 

grew to the estate ot manhood and womanhood. Charles 
was shoemaker, farmer, mail carrier, dealer in calves and 
sheep, manufacturer of wild strawberry and raspberry pre- 
serves, tax collector, and sort of general utility man. He 
was not noted for being a hard-working man, but the fact 
that he enjoyed poor health may have accounted for his dis- 
taste for manual labor. It was a mystery to many how he 
managed to feed, clothe, and provide well for his family of 
eleven children, but he did it. He was always cheerful 
and hopeful, never discouraged, and never overburdened with 
debt since never able to obtain large credit. It was the ver- 
dict of his townsmen that he was possessed of "calculation". 
More than one industrious, hard-working citizen has exclaim- 
ed : "If I only had Charles Tyler's calculation, I would be a 
rich man." 

He never accumulated property, though he sometimes 
boasted that "Chase Whitcher and I pay a larger tax than 
any other two men in town." He died suddenly in 1878 at 
the age of 51. His widow still lives in town, as do five of 
his sons, Fred M., Byron M., Alfred E., Leslie and Carroll. 
One son, Charles Wilder, lives in the West. The eldest of 
the family, Lucetta S., married Amos M. Pike and resides 
in Haverhill, another daughter, Hannah, resides in Stone- 
ham, Mass., and the youngest daughter, May, is the wife 
of Albert A. Foss. 

Pardon W. Allen, who married Dorcas, a daughter of 
Samuel and Merab (Royce) Howe, came to town in 1871, 
and remained several years. He lived on the Ira Whitcher 
farm and filled various town offices, serving for several years 
as town clerk. He was a justice of peace, and magnified 
his office. There is on record in the Grafton registry of 
deeds an agreement signed by Justice Allen in his official 



116 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

capacity, according to which a man and his wife were 
divorced, the wife promising never to trouble the husband, 
the cash consideration being specified. It is probably the 
only divorce on record in New Hampshire on the authority 
of a justice of the peace. He removed to Haverhill about 
1880, where he has since resided. Charles Cutting, William 
Tibbetts, C. E. True, E. L. True, Charles Wilder Tyler, 
Stephen Marden, Charles L. Spooner, and Chester Drown 
were voters in Benton in 1871. William Tibbetts remained 
in town till his death, a few years later. Chester Drown 
lived for a few years on the Amos C. Mann farm on Tunnel 
Stream. In 1872, Gilbert P. Wright, Jr., and Newell C. 
Wright, sons of Gilbert P., George H. Clark, son of Jere- 
miah A., William W. Eastman, son of Sylvester, Solomon 
J. Hutchins, son of Noah C, Dennison D. Davis, son of 
Jeremiah B., Stephen Plant and Frank Whiteman were new 
voters. The Wright brothers, a little later, removed to 
Haverhill, where Newell C. has been somewhat prominent 
in local politics. He was also a member of the 1st. Regt. 
N. H. Volunteers in the Spanish-American war. George 
H. Clark married Susan, daughter of Samuel and Emily 
Whitcher, and a few years later purchased the Peter Howe 
farm, where he has since resided, a prosperous farmer, and 
one of the town's most substantial citizens. He has served 
as selectman, and has been one of the active promoters of 
the local Methodist church. His wife died, April 24, 1900, 
at the age of 41. William W. Eastman is the youngest son 
of Sylvester and Louisa (Whitcher) Eastman. He was 
born in northern New York, October, 1850, but came to 
Benton with his parents when a child, where he has since 
lived. He has been active in all the affairs of the town, has 
served as selectman, road agent, tax collector, town clerk, 




William W. ; - 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 117 

and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1888. 
He is actively engaged in farming, owning the Ira Whitcher 
and Chase Whitcher farms, residing on the latter. He has 
also engaged in lumbering, and is justly recognized as one 
of the most influential citizens of the town. He married, 
first, Georgia Aldrich, of Haverhill, who died Apr. 19, 
1892 ; second, Mrs. Edna Morse Eastman, widow of Jo- 
seph Eastman, of Easton. 

Solomon J. Hutchins married the daughter of William 
Harden, and resides on the William T. Torsey farm on the 
East road. Frank Tyrrell, son of Benjamin H., John S. 
Annis, son of Samuel C, and Fred M. Tyler, son of Charles 
C, became voters in 1873. John S. Annis married Ida 
Tyler and lived in town until his death in 1903. Fred M. 
Clark, married a daughter of James H. Keyser, and has al- 
ways lived in town, since the death of his wife on the Jonas 
G. Brown farm. He had a family of ten children, six of 
whom are living. Only one, the youngest, resides at 
home. Mr. Tyler has inherited many of the characteristics 
of his father. 

New voters in 1874 were : Olin A. R. True, De Elden 
Tibbets, son of William, Franklin Hill, John McLean, 
Orman L. Mann, son of George W., and Roberto C. 
Cox, son of John P. De Elden Tibbets is a farmer, owning 
the William C. Bixby farm at High street, and has spent 
several years in the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad. 
Orman L. Mann is the only one of the eight sons of George 
W. Mann who has remained in town. He is a successful 
and prosperous farmer, and is one of the leading citizens in 
the town. He lives on the Louisa Eastman farm and owns 
the Moses W. Howe farm and also in connection with his 
son-in-law, Charles C. Tyler, the old homestead farm of 



118 SOME TII1XGS ABOUT 

his lather, George W. Mann. Roberto C. Cox, or Birt Cox, 
as he has chosen to call himself since reaching his majoritv, 
married a daughter of Alonzo Spooner and lives on the 
Daniel Whitcher farm, where he has also a small saw mill, 
a cider mill and a blacksmith shop. George E. White came 
to town in 1874. purchased the Josiah F. Jeffers and the 
Joseph Xudd farms, but remained only a tew years when he 
removed to Haverhill. 

Wilbur F. True was a new voter in 1875, but soon after 
become station agent at East Haverhill where he still resides. 
Nathan D. Hutehins. son of Lucius, was also a voter for the 
first time this year, but did not remain long: in town. Al- 
bion G. Whitcher, son of Amos. William B. Page, son of 
Daniel D., Leman S. Keyser. son of John O., and Cleve- 
land Tyrrell, son of Benjamin H., became voters in 1876, 
but soon left town. Alfred Morrill purchased a farm in the 
Page distpict, and later purchased the James A. and James 
H. Cox farms at North Benton where he still resides. 

George Welch, son of Silas M., became a voter 1877 and 
has since resided in town. Other new voters were Melvin 
J. Mann, son of George W., A. Elmore Tyler, son of 
Charles C, and Lebina H. Parker, son of Preseott. A. E. 
Tyler is still living in town and has until recently been with 
his son, Charles C on the George W. Mann farm. Le- 
bina H. Parker remained with his father on the homestead 
farm, and is one of the most influential citizens of the town. 
He has not only followed the pursuit of farming but has en- 
gaged in other enterprises, owning the creamery at Woods- 
ville as well as Benton, and is also proprietor of the Parker 
House, a new and commodious summer hotel at the base oi" 
Muosilauke, erected on the site of the Jonathan Hunkings 
homestead. He has been active in all town affairs has served 




Lebina H. Parker. 



COVENTRY— BEXTOX, X. H. 119 

for many years as chairman of the board of selectmen, 
represented the town in the legislature of 1887, and was 
delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1903. Mr. 
Parker is unmarried and resides with his mother and sisters 
on the homestead farm. Gilbert P. Wright moved to 
Haverhill this year, and Eben T. Hardy moved to the 
Wright farm, remaining for several years. 

Frank B. Parker, son of Prescott, became a voter in 1879 
but removed soon afterward to Bath and later to Lisbon 
where he still resides. Jesse Tyler, son of one of the early 
settlers, came to the High street section of the town in this 
year but a little later removed to Warren. 

In 1880 Fred P. Burnham, a son of Daniel, and who 
married Lucy, daughter of William Harden, purchased the 
small farm opposite the Peter Howe place, but after a few 
years removed to Bath. John C. Speed, a Civil War 
veteran, came to town, remaining until his death in 1901 at 
the age of 64. Halsey R. Howe, son of Samuel, was a 
voter for the first time this year. He remained on the 
homestead farm with his parents becoming the owner after 
the death of his father in 1899. He was twice married. 
A daughter by his first wife married Wade Lane, of 
Woodsville. He died in 1904, leaving a widow and one 
son. David F. Richardson came from North Lisbon, and 
purchased the Hunkings mill and farm, also the Amos C. 
Mann farm, and for several years carried on an extensive 
lumber business. After he sold his lumber lands to the 
Fall Mountain Paper Co. he removed to the Hollow, keep- 
ing a general store until 1891, when he sold out to Charles 
A. Veazey, and removed to North Haverhill, where he died 
a year or two later. He served as selectman, town clerk, 
and represented the town in the legislature of 1891. He 



120 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

married Lillian Wilmot, a granddaughter of Samuel Howe. 
In 1881 Edgar S. Welch, son of Silas M., and Byron M. 
Tyler, son of Charles, became voters. The former married 
a daughter of Benjamin H. Tyrrell, lived a few years at 
High Street, where he was engaged in the lumber business, 
and then removed to Barton, Vt., where he is engaged as 
contractor and builder. Byron M. Tyler spent a few years 
in Stoneham, Mass., but returned to Benton, where he owns 
the Jeremiah B. Davis farm. He is also proprietor of the 
Woodsville and Benton stage, and carries the daily 
mail. He has been twice married. Paul M. Howe, eldest 
son of Daniel M and Susan (Clough) Howe, became a voter 
in 1882, and took quite an active part in town affairs during 
the next few years until he entered the employ of the Pike 
Manufacturing Co., at Pike, where he has since lived. He 
married Anna J., a daughter of Samuel C. Annis. Gard- 
ner F. Hurlburt, son of Alden E., was another new voter. 
He remained in town several years, but now resides in Ha- 
verhill. 

John Sheldon came to the High Street neighborhood in 
1883, and George Damon purchased the Amos C. Mann 
farm on Tunnell Stream. Charles Bion Keyser, son of 
JamesH., was a new voter, as was also Frank Foss. None 
of these now reside in town. New names on the voting 
list in 1885 were: Fred M. Richardson, Isaac Lindsay, 
and W. E. Bell, and these were followed the next 
year by Henry E. Weeks, A. L. Phelps, who moved 
to the Daniel D. Page farm, Samuel E. Hight and E. P. 
Weld. In 1887 Moses B., son of George W., and Sarah 
(Bisbee) Mann, became a voter, as did also Leslie G., son 
of Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler. Williard Bean 
took up his residence this year on the Jeremiah B. Davis 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 121 

farm. In 1888, Sara, son of Daniel M. and Susan (Clough) 
Howe became a voter, as did Norman J., son of James and 
Olive A. (Hunkings) Page, and Harry, youngest son of 
Daniel D. Page. W. Sims Nutter married Minnie, daugh- 
ter of George W. and Sarah (Bisbee) Mann, and came to 
reside with his father-in-law. He is a son of the late Josh- 
ua Nutter, of Bath. After the death of Mr. Mann, in 1901, 
he removed to Woodsville. George E. Wilson came to 
Benton in 1889, but soon afterwards removed to Bath. 
The new voters in 1890 were ; Lewis French, who purchased 
the Bartlett Welch farm, and John Gilman, who also settled 
in the High Street district, but both left town a little later, 
French selling his farm to De Elden Tibbetts. John Fack- 
ney and W. F. Fackney bought the Daniel Wilson farm in 

1891, and subsequently purchased the S. C. Annis farm, 
where they now reside. Carroll B. Tyler, youngest son of 
Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler, became a voter in 

1892. In 1893 William Philbrick came to the Page dis- 
trict. William D. Veazey, son of Charles A., became a 
voter, but later went to Laconia, studied law, and is engaged 
in the practice of his profession in that city. Frank Moulton, 
who lived in the John E. Keyser house in the Hollow, was 
postmaster until he left town some four years later. Harry 
H. Elliott purchased the George Tyler farm and has since 
resided in town. 

The new voters in 1894 were : Harry Little, who pur- 
chased the Silas M. Welch farm at High Street ; Lee A. 
Collins, son of Charles ; William Kendall ; George Inger- 
son ; and John Wallace. The latter came to live with 
Charles B. Keyser, and has since purchased the Keyser 
farm. William Kendall came from Easton, where he had 
been been engaged for several years in the lumber business 



122 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

in partnership with his brother-in-law, Daniel J. Whitcher. 
He purchased the small farm opposite the Peter Howe place, 
and made improvements by repairing the buildings and 
erecting new ones, making his residence one of the most at- 
tractive in town. He has served the town in the various town 
offices, and represented it in the legislature of 1897, enjoy- 
ing the distinction of being the only Republican representa- 
tive ever elected in Benton. Indeed, except in his case, the 
town has had an unbroken succession of Democratic repre- 
sentatives, returning in 1904 to its ancient faith in the elec- 
tion of Lebina H. Parker to the General Court. 

In 1895 Albert A. Foss, who married May, the youngest 
daughter of Charles C. and Diana (Bishop) Tyler, and Ar- 
thur A. Delaney, who married the youngest daughter of 
John and Eliza (Brown) Flanders, became voters. George 
W. Bailey purchased the C. A. Veazey farm in 1896 and 
has since resided in town. George Belyea came from War- 
ren to the farm adjoining the old sawmill site north of War- 
ren Summit station. James Ramsey took up his residence 
on the Winthrop G. Torsey farm. Stephen H. Dexter mar- 
ried a daughter of Frederick M. Tyler, and became a voter 
in 1897, and Joseph Peltier moved to the Hollow, where he 
has since resided. E. L. Morse, who married a daughter 
of Daniel and Susan (Clough) Howe was another of the 
new citizens. 

Among those who have become voters by reason ot attain- 
ing their majority, or who have moved into town to remain 
for more than a year or two, since 1897, are : Chas. P. Col- 
lins, son of Charles ; Alonzo Annis, son of John ; George 
Brill ; Willard M. Marden ; Napoleon Burke, Jr. ; John E. 
Cox, son of Birt ; Durward W. Hutchins, son of Solomon 
J. ; Ernest T. Page, son ot James ; Rodney Rollins ; and 




William Kendall, 



COVENTRY— BENTON, NIL 123 

Charles C. Tyler, son of A. Elmore. 

At the present time the town has but a little upwards of 
forty voters, and the population, according to the census of 
1904, was but 209. This is for the most part in the north 
part of the town. The most of the families settling in town 
in the first half of the last century are unrepresented. Wil- 
liam W. Eastman is a great-grandson of Obadiah, chief of 
the first settlers ; Ernest T. Page is a grandson of James J. 
and a great-grandson of Samuel ; Orman L. Mann is a 
grandson of Samuel ; Alonzo Annis is a great-grandson of 
Joseph; Daniel M. Howe is a son of Daniel; James H. 
Keyser is a son of William ; George Welch is a grandson of 
Jonathan ; Solomon J. Hutchins is a grandson of Benjamin 
C. ; Birt Cox is a son of John P. ; and the Tyler brothers, 
Fred M., A. Elmore and Byron M., are grandsons of Kim- 
ball. On the other hand the names Whitcher, Wells, Mars- 
ton, Coburn, Brown, Davis, Wright, Lathrop, Knight, 
Torsey and Flanders, once so prominent, have disappeared 
from the voting list. There has been a decadence, but 
Benton is by no means, as yet, an abandoned town. It has 
a past which is fondly cherished by her widely scattered sons 
and daughters, and there are not a few who believe that the 
march of events will bring her a prosperous future. 



124 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER VI. 

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL LIFE. 

The religious and social life of the town has been to a 
large extent one, and such as been peculiar to the town is 
that which has characterized the northern part of the town, 
since the interests of the High Street neighborhood have 
been from this point of view largely identified with those of 
Warren, as have those of the Meadows, and the Page Dis- 
trict with East Haverhill. There has not, so far as known, 
ever been a religious organization in these last named sections, 
except that for a few years when the Rev. William C. Bixby 
lived at High Street, it is probable that a Methodist class was 
organized and meetings were held at the High Street school 
house and in private dwellings. The Adventists also some- 
times held religious services in the school house. The com- 
munity at the north part of the town was, however, at the 
beginning, and has been in the subsequent years, one by 
itself, and has furnished whatever has been characteristic and 
distinctive in Coventry and Benton social and religious life. 
"The Hollow," or Whitcher Hollow, as it has usually been 
called, has been the center, for here was the first sawmill 
and gristmill, the blacksmith and wheelwright shops, the 
post office, except for the few first years after it was estab- 
lished, the store, and just up the hill to the east "around the 
turn", the meeting house. Haverhill Corner was ten miles 
distant, and Bath Lower Village seven, and in the early 
days the roads were either poor, or there were none at all, 
and the Coventry settlers had little communication with the 
outside world. They had little to sell. They burned wood 



TRY— BE. 7 ." _ " . H. 1 . r 

i- - i^:^ :-ii.:i :: -.':- -.z:-z: ' - -~ :■. ■■-.-- i-:_- z"'---'-- '-'- - 
..'-.''-'-- " -"- '-'.'' \' -•' - . .'. '-■--. ~.:.-~ v l .- 
-^.- - •-^'-' '--'-- :.' —--7 ''■-'• '■'--■'•■'- ~ -.:-. -'-'.-'. '.--. -'-.- 
•.:•--::■ \z.-.~ h: ::: •■-.- :: ---.::-' a.: :\- 7,i:i n 17- •- 
kill stores. later, after ther had bnik sawnulb, the* 
l-ii.^: :: ZLn vil. » Lr.-i.-2 i - , --•:- - :.-.- 
:■-: i - 1.-. :r ■ •-. - --, . .: j, :: " •' : 1 --..-- :i-j 

" I T~ - * ~* { - ;._n ."i * ..'rl '_ . i I ". ■ 1 * 1_? . -. 1 . 1 -. 

r.-*i~::- iirz-.^'-.-zr:- . - 71I ^ - . i-: .::- 

-=r..:. -1.11 V -..J. ill r". — -r.-r Ir^-^l-J : ". 11 _' - . . ~ 1 " lr- 

i~i 1 . :•! ::-.• ; - 1 .:.'r" _.r~ -i 1 .1 1 .•::' : ? :: - > 
i..-^i ..1 ill ---I:, iri-1.: 7 iilzj : -.: - 1 
their world. They rarely 

1 '.'.:: I1-1 ;• -'i- mi- rr.n :".::- umiriiT-r-: Ir. 7i- 

1 '• ill -1 ~ — T7r llilr ;_- -.L-. • "1 ill^llr-V-r? Ill 

:..i1t: rr:n l-^iii-r: -iiiri :V. i. .1-- ::^: - 11 :: T 
:-.--! .1 :: -1 7 :- 1 ..•-■... _-~l-..- - -. •- : ::.-. 
character. Chain and tables were 

work and plain Brag, if w* of high thinking 
The social lite was of the neighborhood ds 

'. 1 '- * - '. ~-:\Z r- '.J I-r.il'.'1'..lti-: _:-"t"" 

.-.::: ;i---. :— _- ?;- . ir -ix.r 

I7 -r_i.i- -^; r i-.il-i Li::::.-: . -.: — .1:t7 T - 
"•'-•17 ^1- ~ r~ t.*7*. •-" T.-r 11 1 ':.-:-. ~ '..- 1 
i-:ir ;.:.:• ;: ;•::;• ?.-. _r . . . • ±-.r~>\-+ 

'-.z~--~~t~ ':-...: '.: '.:- -z~\~. 

1-, 7 — -- - - 7 
— ~ - . . 1 1- 
f.M'odinglj actively on the 
far the fact that the only two chare* orj 



126 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

formed in town were of these denominations. Just when 
the churches were organized does not appear, as the early 
records have been lost, but the Free Will Baptists appear to 
have had the advantage of the earlier organization. In the 
Free Baptist Register for 1833, LandafT and Coventry are 
classed as a single church, with Samuel Cole and George W. 
Cogswell as ministers, ordained during the previous year, 
and with Ira Eaton of Landaff, and Horace Webber and 
Robert Coburn of Coventry, as licensed ministers. The Lis- 
bon quarterly meeting of which the LandafF and Coventry 
churches were constituent members was organized in 1833, 
and in the statistical report for the year 1835, printed in the 
register, Coventry appears for the first time as a separate 
church, with Samuel Cole as minister, and with a member- 
ship of 50. George W. Cogswell became minister to the 
church, the next year, 1836, the membership then being 
reported as 25. He sustained this relation until 1865, 
though at various periods other ministers were engaged as 
pastors for terms of one, two or three years. Elder John 
Norris came from Maidstone, Vermont, and preached for 
the larger part of the years 1854-55. Elder George W. 
Richardson was another resident minister in the early sixties. 
Elder John Davis came out from Centre Haverhill, and 
Elder Lorenzo D. Jeffers from East Haverhill, and minister- 
ed to the people, sometimes for a few Sundays and sometimes 
for months. Elder A.. C. Manson, who resided at Sugar 
Hill, also preached in Benton for two years. 

Capt. Winthrop G. Torsey and Jeremiah B. Davis were 
licentiates, but for a period of thirty years Elder Cogswell 
was the minister of the Coventry and Benton church. Other 
Elders of the denomination might be the preachers, but Ben- 
ton was his parish, and all this time he kept jealous watch- 



CO VENTB Y— BENTON, N H. 127 

care over it. When there was no one else to preach, the 
Elder drove over from Landaff and proclaimed his message. 
He was in demand for funerals, since he had the gift of 
making his congregation weep, and the success of a funeral 
as a matter of entertainment depended upon the amount of 
weeping the officiating minister could cause. The Elder had 
tact also. Some ministers would give offense by omitting 
mention in their prayers of some of the relatives of the de- 
parted. Some cousin or aunt or grandchild or grandparent 
would be forgotten by the minister as he enumerated the 
relatives, and then there was trouble because of the slight, 
but Elder Cogswell managed never to give offense. After 
beginning with the nearest relatives and going through the 
list to the best of his recollection, he always had this saving 
clause in his prayer by asking comfort for "all the other 
relatives of the deceased whether of near or remote degree 
of kindred, whether present or absent." The membership 
of his church varied in the thirty years from 56, the largest 
number in 1852, to 19 in 1837. This latter number, the 
Elder always pointed to with pride since it was obtained by 
the death of one, and by the expulsion of six. The 19 were 
evidently the saving remnant, since growth began immedi- 
ately afterwards, reaching high-water mark in 1856 and 
never falling belew 40 during his ministry. He never had 
a stated salary, but accepted the free will offerings of his 
people. These were sometimes in cash, but more frequent- 
ly in eggs, butter, cheese, oats, wheat, potatoes, veal, pork, 
beef, vegetables of all kinds, etc., etc. The Elder never 
struck for a higher salary, and the people never complained. 
If he did a little outside business in trading in horses and 
cattle, loaning a little money now and then on good security, 
this was regarded as perfectly legitimate, and the Elder had 



128 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

an eye for points in both horses and cattle. 

In 1866 Elder Morrison of Topsham became the minister, 
and was the regular preacher for most of the time till 1871, 
when Elder J. Chamberlin became the minister for a brief 
period. In 1877 Elder Lorenzo D. Jeffers of East Haverhill 
became the minister for a year or more, and after this there 
was no regular Free Will Baptist preaching in town. Win- 
throp C. Whitcher, son of Amos, was duly licensed as a min- 
ister in 1878, but it does not appear that he ever preached in 
his native town. He soon afterward removed to Stoneham, 
Mass., and after 1880 no report was made of the church to 
the Lisbon quarterly meeting or the New Hampshire yearly 
meeting. The organized church rapidly disintegrated 
through the death and removal of its members, and is now 
numbered among the things which were. 

Just when Methodism obtained its foothold in town does 
not appear, but the beginnings may be traced to the year 
1801, when Elijah R. Sabin, who had been appointed by 
the New York conference preacher to a territory embracing 
all of northern New Hampshire, tinder the name of Lan/lafF 
circuit, stopped over Sunday on his way to Landaff at the 
house of Chase Whitcher, near Warren Summit, and held 
religious services under the maples at what is now known as 
the Harriman place. His congregation was for the most 
part from Coventry, from High street, and the Meadows, 
and when he left on Monday he organized a Methodist class 
of three, two of whom were Chase Whitcher and his daugh- 
ter, Dolly, afterwards the wife of John Atwell, who was one 
of the early settlers of North Coventry. William Whitcher, 
the eldest son of Chase, was then a boy of 18. He did not 
become a member of that class, the first in the entire north 
country except that organized a year or two previously at 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 129 

Landaff, but his life-long attachment to Methodism began 
with that Sunday in 1801 under the ministrations of the first 
apostle of Methodism in Northern New Hampshire, Elijah 
R. Sabin. When he set up his own home in the north part 
of the town he had become a Methodist and later was 
a licensed exhorter and local preacher for many years. He 
was reinforced later by Daniel Howe, Enos Wells, Israel 
Flanders and others who became the nucleus around which 
the Methodist Episcopal church was gathered. The other 
early settlers were for the most part — Peter Howe, the Mars- 
tons, Wrights, Coburns, Davises, and Browns — Free Will 
Baptists, though there were a few, like for instance, the 
Tylers and Manns, who were inclined to a more liberal sort 
of faith. Coventry was a part of the Landaff circuit from 
1801 to 1824, when it became a part of the Orford circuit, 
and three years later, in 1827, a part of the Haverhill cir- 
cuit. From 1827 to 1851, Coventry — Benton — was made a 
part of a circuit which was composed of various churches, 
and was classed at different times with Haverhill, East Ha- 
verhill, North Haverhill, Bath, Landaff, Lyman and Lisbon. 
In 1851 Swiftwater and Benton were made an appointment 
in the New Hampshire conference, and were so continued till 
1904, a period of 53 years, during which time the Methodist 
preachers occupied the pulpit of the union meeting house on 
alternate Sundays until 1879, when an arrangement was 
made by which there were services at Swiftwater in the 
morning and at Benton in the afternoon. In 1904 Benton 
was abandoned by the appointing power of the Methodist 
church, and Swiftwater was classed with Landaff as an ap- 
pointment. 

In the early davs, previous to 1846, when the meeting 
house was erected, though a Methodist class was organized 



130 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

as early as 1816, there was no regular preaching by the iten- 
erants of this denomination. They came as suited conveni- 
ence and circumstances. Their pulpits were in barns, school 
houses and private dwellings, as opportunity offered. Among 
the preachers who visited the town were those whose names 
became historic in New England Methodism. The mention 
of a few of these will suffice : Asa Kent, Elijah Hedding, 
Solomon Sias, Jacob Sanborn, Lewis Bates, Abraham Mer- 
rill, Samuel Kelley, Benjamin R. Hoyt, Dan Young, Charles 
Baker, George Storrs, Ebenezer Ireson, N. W. Aspinwall, 
Charles A. Cowing, Holman Drew, Silas Quimby, Chas. 
D. Cahoon, Justin Spaulding, E. Brown, and G. W. H. 
Clark. In 1844 and 1845 Henry H. Hartwell was one of 
the three preachers assigned to the Haverhill, East Haver- 
hill, North Haverhill and Benton circuit, and he devoted 
much of his time to Benton. Under his ministrations there 
was a wide spread old time revival, and in 1846 the Union 
Meeting house was erected, and thenceforward until 1904 
the town enjoyed stated religious services. The Union 
Meeting house society was duly incorporated, and at the an- 
nual meetings the pew holders would declare their religious 
preferences, and the occupancy of the house for the different 
Sundays of the year was determined by these preferences. 
The Free Will Baptists and Methodists were entitled to the 
use of the house for the most of the time, and as a general 
rule, used it on alternate Sundays down to the disintegration 
of the former church, when the house by a sort of common 
consent passed under Methodist control. During all of this 
period, however, the Universalists, and later the Second Ad- 
ventists had the use of the house for services of their own for 
a few Sundays of each year whenever they were favored 
with the presence of ministers of their respective denomina- 




Benton Meeting House, Erected 1846. 





Rev. George W. Cogswell. 



Dea. Winthrop G. Torsey. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 131 

tions. Between the years 1846 and 1851 the Methodist 
ministers who were appointed over the Benton church were : 
1846-47, Newell Culver; 1848, E. Brown; 1849, G. W. 
Bryant ; 1850, the pulpit was supplied by Joseph E. King, 
principal of the Newbury, Vt., seminary. 

In 1851 Daniel W. Barber was appointed to Swiftwater 
and Benton. The membership of the two churches, which 
for statistical purposes were henceforward regarded as one, 
was reported as 111, including 25 probationers. A parson- 
age owned jointly by the two churches was erected at Swift- 
water, adjoining the church there, but it was understood that 
the pastor was to devote half his time to his Benton flock. 

The appointments subsequently made were as follows : 
1852-3, Thomas J. Andrews; 1854-5, Oloff H. Call; 
1856-7, Charles R. Homan ; 1858-9, John English; 1860- 
1, Greenleaf P. Warner; 1862-3, Joseph Fawcett ; 1864-5, 
John English; 1866, Alfred B. Best; 1867, G. C. Xoyes ; 
1868-70, Samuel F. Lougee ; 1871, Henry Chandler; 
1872, Arnold Adams; 1873, supply; 1874, supply; 1875, 
supply; 1876, supply; 1877, supply; 1878, supply; 1879, 
William Ramsden; 1880-1, Claudius Byrne; 1882, J. M. 
Buffum ; 1883-4, L. W. Prescott ; 1885-6, C. E. Rogers ; 
1887-8, J. N. Bradford; 1889-91, Henry Hammond, 
1892-4, I. C. Brown; 1895-6, J. R. Dinsmore ; 1897, A. 
G. Smith; 1898-1900; E. C. Clough ; 1901-3, W. A. 
Hudson. There is no separate record of the Benton mem- 
bership, but at the beginning of the union of the church with 
that at Swiftwater in a single quarterly conference, the mem- 
bership of the two churches was about equal, but beginning 
with about 1870 that at Benton began to decline, and at the 
time of the abandonment of the field by the denomination 
the present year, had become but a mere handful. For the 



1 32 SOME THINGS AB UT 

years 1873-78 the churches at both Benton and Swiftwater 
had no regular pastor appointed by the conference, but the 
pulpits were occupied by John Currier one year, John Wins- 
low for two years, J. S. Jewett, a local preacher from War- 
ren, one year, while some of the time during this period a 
young Free Will Baptist clergyman from Maine, and the 
Rev. S. E. Quimby, then living at Newbury, Vt., acted as 
occasional supplies for a few months at a time. The Benton 
pulpit was also occupied at various times by ministers of the 
Advent faith. The meeting house was repaired and thor- 
oughly renovated in 1869, the lofty choir gallery being torn 
down and placed on a small platform opposite the pulpit, 
while the overhead vestry was abandoned and a smaller one 
constructed in the north end of the basement. Some twenty 
years later other repairs were made. The salaries paid 
preachers, either Free Will Baptist or Methodist, were not 
large. The Baptists on two or three occasions secured a 
regular pastor with promise of a salary varying from $300 
to $400, but there were arrearages, failures to pay, and 
these pastorates were brief. The Methodist pastors were 
promised salaries varying from $350 to $450 for the two 
churches at Swiftwater and Benton, besides the use of the 
parsonage, and these were usually paid, if the proceeds of 
donation parties were added. None of the Benton ministers, 
however, ever became purse proud. 

The Benton meeting house was a center of social life, and 
except for the post office almost the only center. Until within 
a few years the order of the Sunday services was, preaching 
in the morning, immediately followed by Sunday school, 
preaching at 1.30 p. m. and a prayer or conference meeting 
at 5 o'clock during the summer months, and at early candle 
lighting during the winter. Not all the people attended 



COVENTRY— BE XT OX. X. H. 133 

the Sunday school at the nooning hour. That was designed 
for the youngsters and women. The men adjourned to the 
Ions: row of horse sheds where thev discussed the sermon to 
which they had listened and — other matters. Nearly every- 
body "went to meeting." The object may have been to 
listen to the sermon and worship, while with some, the instinct 
of getting together, keeping touch with each other, furnished 
by the noon hour, or in other words, the social instinct may 
have been the impelling force. If great inspiring thoughts 
were not imparted by the sermons of George W. Cogswell 
or John Davis or Charles R. Homan or John English, it 

was something for the hard-working men and women to don 
© © 

Sunday clothes, get together and exchange views. The 
"meeting house" prevented the West district, the East dis- 
trict, and the South district of this backwoods community 
from becoming isolated sections. The meeting house, even 
as a Sunday rendezvous, to say nothing of its being a place 
of worship, was worth vastly more to Benton than it ever 
cost. The singing schools were also held at the meeting 
house, and what singing schools they were. When one re- 
members Joseph Y. Cheney, with his violin, one of the 
most famous old time singing masters, it is useless to talk of 
conservatories of music. And there were other things con- 
nected with the singing school which bring up tender recol- 
lections. The choir in the Benton church was a famous one 

before the choir gallerv was degraded nearlv to the level of 

© « © j 

the floor. That choir, in its palmiest days, should have 
been heard to be appreciated. There was no organ or other 
instrument of music until more degenerate times. John E. 
Keyser reigned supreme with his tuning fork. His favorite 
choir, all trained by "Joe Cheney", held the seats in the 
early sixties. There were Charles H. Whitcher, Winthrop 



134 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

C. Whitcher, James E. Whitcher, Amarett A. Whitcher, 
Florence E. Whitcher, William F. Whitcher, Mary E. 
Whitcher, Frances C. Whitcher, Elvah G. Whitcher, 
Edward F. Mann, George Henr) T Mann, Van Buren 
Glazier, Phebe A. Howe, Dorcas Howe, George Wilson 
(who couldn't sing, but didn't know it) and "Uncle 
Billy" Eastman. There was music in "Uncle Billy's" soul, 
and in his voice as well. Dr. Eben Tourjee of the Boston 
Conservatory would have turned green with envy to hear 
that choir sing the Easter Anthem, with the solo by "Uncle 
Billy," beginning with, "And did he rise? etc." One of 
the great musical events occurred on one occasion when 
John Keyser's sensibilities had been ruffled and the choir 
was on a strike. Elder Cogswell occupied the pulpit. 
"Uncle Billy" never struck, and he occupied the gallery 
alone, but "Uncle Billy" sang bass. The Elder took in 
the situation. He spied the wife of Deacon Amos Whitcher 
in her pew. In her younger days she had attempted to sing. 
The Elder said : "Sister Polly, if you will go up in the gal- 
lery with brother William, you can sing soprano, he can sing 
bass, and Til sing alto, and I guess we'll have some singing, 
even if brother Keyser has a sore throat." Sister Polly 
went; she sang soprano, "Uncle Billy", bass, and the Elder 
came in on the alto. They just sang. The recalcitrant 
choir sitting down stairs in the pews enjoyed the Elder's alto 
and "Aunt Polly's" soprano, even if John Keyser did look 
glum. 

Some of the ministers will be remembered, not only for 
their godliness and saintliness, and they were for the most 
part of this sort, but also for other peculiarities. Elder John 
Davis informed the congregation one Sunday that he was 
"bound for the Kingdom," and was going "as far as God 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 135 

and my legs will carry me." Elder Cogswell, on a funeral 
occasion, when the death was caused by diptheria, announced 
"they are having diptheria up our way, and the young folks 
are scared and are getting religion." It was also on this oc- 
casions that he gave his famous recipe for the cure of the 
dread disease, a compound of West India moHsses, cayenne 
pepper and salt pork, with the formula for preparation. 
Joseph Fawcett, the Methodist clergyman of the time, 
sat in the pulpit with the Elder. He was a scholarly man, 
an able preacher, who, somehow, had been appointed to 
Swiftwater and Benton. The personification of dignity and 
culture, he sat during the Elder's discourse with a broad 
smile illuminating his face. After the service, while at the 
house of one of his parishioners, his good wife took him to 
task for his jolly demeanor on so solemn an occasion, but his 
reply was : ''When I feel tickled I can't feel solemn." Jo- 
seph Fawcett was an Englishman. His use and abuse of his 
h's was a great source of amusement to the young peo- 
ple. There was quite a wide spread revival during his pas- 
torate, and in the special services which were held he was 
assisted by the Rev. Lewis P. Cushman, then at Landaff. 
The sermons were of the old fashioned orthodox variety. 
George W. Mann, who was an ardent Universalist, felt 
called upon to warn the young people not to be led away by 
fears of hell, and now and then in the midst of the revival 
services exercised his gift in this direction. One evening, 
after Mr. Cushman had made a specially fervent appeal, Mr. 
Mann started in to refute what had been said, when Mr. 
Cushman interrupted, saying, "let us sing," and with his 
powerful voice started the hymn : 

"Jesus, Great Shepherd of thy sheep, 
To thee for help we fly, 



136 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Thy little flock in safety keep, 
Fer oh, the wolf is nigh." 

Mr. Mann sat down. Later in the evening he made a second 
attempt, when the versatile Mr. Cushman was ready with 
another hymn, beginning: 

"Vain man, thy fond pursuits forbear, 

Repent,, thine end is nigh, 
Death at the farthest can't be far, 
Oh, turn before thou die." 

The Universal ist brother gave it up. Then there was Dan- 
iel W. Barber, the man with the wooden arm, who preached 
the doctrine of Christian perfection, and with scrupulous 
and painstaking care collected his salary ; Charles R. Ho- 
man, who was strong on church discipline and kept a sharp 
lookout for any deviation on the part of members of his flock 
from paths marked out by the Methodist discipline ; John 
English, tw r ice the appointee at Swiftwater and Benton, who 
drove a good horse and who was ready always to accept do- 
nations of country produce ; Greenleaf P. Warner, who was 
Methodist pastor during the days of the war, and whose 
strong Democratic pro-slavery sentiments led to his leaving 
the ministry shortly after the close of his Benton pastorate ; 
A. B. Best, a Dublin University educated Irishman, who 
somehow couldn't adapt himself to Benton, and whose stay 
was brief; Elder Morrison, the Free Will Baptist, who 
smoked a clay pipe, ate large quantities of saleratus to aid 
his digestion, and who constantly called attention to the 
topic "under consideration," though his hearers were never 
able to ascertain what the topic vvas. These were characters 
among the Benton ministers, and some of them will be long 
remembered. The visits of the Presiding Elders were events 
of importance, and among those who were specially welcomed 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 137 

were William D. Cass, Newell Culver, James Pike, Elisha 
Adams and Lorenzo D. Barrows. 

The Free Will Baptist quarterly meetings now and then 
held with the Benton church were also great occasions. 
The ministers and delegates from a dozen or so churches 
were present, and the meetings usually began Friday after- 
noon and continued through Sunday. Everybody attended, 
and there was a general holiday. The religious services 
were fervid and always of an evangelistic character, and 

•'The eating and the drinking, too, 
Were beautiful and foine." 

Half a century ago when Benton was peopled by a church 
going community, the meeting house was well filled. They 
were all there ; the Marstons, Torseys, Davises, Wellses, 
Browns, Whitchers, Shermans, Manns, Flanders, Keysers, 
Wrights, Coburns, Tylers, Howes, Giffords, Eastmans, 
Annises, Wilsons, Glaziers, with several families from 
South Landaff and Bunga. Every now and then were re- 
vivals or protracted meetings, when the Methodists and Bap- 
tists would unite in a spirit of brotherly love and harmony 
which continued until it came to a disposition of the converts. 
Deacon Amos Whitcher was on the lookout for recruits for 
the Baptists, while his sister, Louisa, wife of Sylvester 
Eastman, who was fully as ardent a Methodist as Deacon 
Amos was Baptist, had as sharp a look out for Methodist re- 
cruits. The efforts of "Uncle" Amos and "Aunt" Louisa 
to gain adherents to their respective denominations were 
sometimes productive of anything but brotherly and sisterly 
love, and sometimes before the convert was safely landed 
he had escaped both nets and remained in a backslidden 
state until reclaimed at the next protracted meeting. 

There was no country store in town, and in its absence the 



1 38 SOME THINGS AB UT 

post office was another social center. Previous to 1844 the 
town was without a poet office, and for many years after its 
settlement, letters were obtained from the Haverhill office ten 
miles distant. In the year, however, after the County road, 
so called, from Haverhill Corner through Coventry, Bunga, 
and East Landaff to Franconia had been completed, a mail 
route was established between Haverhill Corner and Fran- 
conia, with post offices at Benton and East Landaff. Ira 
Whitcher was the first postmaster, but having been elected 
to the legislature in 1845, he resigned, and Chase Whitcher 
was appointed. He, too, was elected to the legislature in 
1852, and on his resignation Amos Whitcher was appointed, 
holding the office for nearly thirty years, until his removal 
from town. Subsequent postmasters were Frank Moulton 
and D. F. Richardson. After the removal of the latter 
from town Mrs. Ruth J. Veazey, wife of Charles A., was 
appointed postmistress, and still holds the office. In the 
early fifties the route from Haverhill to Franconia was abol- 
ished, that town, as well as East Landaff, being accommo- 
dated by a new route from Littleton, while Benton and 
Haverhill Center were given a mail twice a week over a 
route from North Haverhill. This was maintained until 
about 1885 when a new route with daily mail was established 
from Woodsville with post offices at Swiftwater, Whitcher- 
ville, Benton and Wildwood. A few years later the 
Whitcherville post office was discontinued, and in 1902, on 
the establishment of a rural delivery route covering the 
Swiftwater and a part of the Benton territory, the Swift- 
water post office was also discontinued. The present route 
is from Woodsville through Benton to Wildwood with a 
daily mail, and with offices at the two last named places. 
The palmy days of the post office were when Amos 




ti 



o 
H 



CO YEXTR Y—BEXTOX. N. H. 139 

Whitcher wag the postmaster and the office was located in 
the kitchen of his dwelling house. The mail days were 
Wednesdays and Saturdays, the carrier making the trip to 
North Haverhill in the morning: and returning in the evening. 
The town's people did not carry on an extensive correspond- 
ence with the outside world, but there was always a chance 
of receiving a letter, so most of the families of the town were 
represented, by from three to five members, at the post 
office on the evenings when ''Uncle Amos'" or "Aunt Polly," 
assisted by other members of the family, emptied the con- 
tents of the bag on the kitchen table, and proceeded to sort 
and deliver its contents to the crowd that surged around them 
looking over the shoulders of the post office family to ascer- 
tain as far as was possible for whom letters were received, 
with such additional information as might be gained from a 
glance at the postmarks and the handwriting on the envel- 
opes. If anyone received a letter the fact became generally 
known and there were more or less accurate surmises as to 
the writer and the contents of the epistle. Going to the 
post office on Wednesday or Saturday evenings was an event 
of no small importance. If there were no letters there were 
the usual newspapers, Isaac Hill's New Hampshire Patriot or 
Bedding's Democratic Republican, printed at Haverhill. 
One or both these staunch organs of the Democratic party 
were taken in nearly every household, and such families as did 
not subscribe had no delicate scruples concerning borrowing. 
For many years but one copy of a Whig — afterwards Re- 
publican — newspaper came regularly in the Benton mail. 
Ira Whitcher took the Xew Hampshire Statesman, a fact 
which gave rise in the minds of some to suspicions concerning 
his Democratic orthodoxy. The literary appetite of the few 
who made pretentions to literary tastes was appeased by the 



140 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

True Flag, Graham's Magazine and Ballou's Dollar Monthly, 
for each of which there were now and then subscribers. 
Deacon Amos Whitcher and two or three others of the Bap- 
tist brethren took The Morning Star, while Zion's Herald 
went regurlarly into several Methodist homes. During the 
presidential campaigns a club of subscribers to the Boston 
Post weekly campaign edition was usually gotten up, for 
Benton was nothing if not a Democratic town by an over- 
whelming majority. There were always crowds at the post 
office on the arrival of the mail, and the boys and girls and 
young people were out in force. "Aunt Polly's" kitchen 
would be packed. It is little wonder that some of the 
youngsters intimated that she was not possessed of a sweet 
disposition. Their presence and behavior would have ex- 
hausted the patience of a saint. The Benton post office was 
indeed a social, and at the same time something of a literary 
center. The young people had something of the same op- 
portunities enjoyed by their elders in the meeting house horse 
sheds on Sundays. 

There were few social organizations. Indeed, there is a 
record of but one, a body of the Independent Order of Good 
Templars. This came into being in 1868, flourished for a 
little while, and went out of existence some two years later. 
The leading spirits in this organization were : George W. 
Mann, John E. Keyser, Charles H. and Win thro p C. 
Whitcher, and George Henry Mann. There were of course 
large numbers of the opposite sex belonging, but the leading 
spirits were those above named. The records which are still 
in existence indicate that when Henry Mann left town the 
life and enthusiasm of the lodge departed. Benton did not 
furnish good soil for lodges and fraternal organizations. 
Most of the people were too much concerned with the prob- 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 141 

lems of daily existence to give much time to such matters, 
and as they cost money the practical question which arose 
was, do they pay? The good people who joined the Good 
Templars were for the most part those who never "looked 
upon the wine when it is red," and were in no particular 
danger of becoming inebriates. The few who were not total 
abstainers who became members served a good purpose per- 
haps in furnishing the lodge with business aside from the 
routine ritual, since considerable time was consumed at the 
meetings, after the lodge got fairly organized, in dealing with 
those who had violated their pledges. Those who drank 
now and then were expelled, and the total abstainers finally 
came to the conclusion that they would still remain total 
abstainers if there were no lodge. And then again, Henry 
Mann had entered the employ of the railroad, and had moved 
out of town. There were, during the century of the town's 
history, a few who contented themselves with out-of-town 
lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows, but they were very few. 
The great majority of the citizens of Benton were never 
"jiners." They had simple tastes, and they lived plain 
simple lives. They were mutually helpful. They were 
honest in their dealings with each other, and there was in 
all the life of the town a high tone of morality. Family ties 
were strong, the obligations of neighbors were recognized 
and kept, and departure from the paths of strict morality 
brought a loss of social caste. The people were homoge- 
neous. Not until recent years was there any infusion of the 
Irish or French Canadian, but the families were for the most 
part descended direct from the English who settled Essex 
county, Mass., in the years between 1630 and 1650. The 
most enterprising and ambitious did not remain in town. 
They sought other localities, and many of them won success 



142 80ME THINGS ABOUT 

and positions of honor and influence in other communities. 
This was due of course largely to natural ability, but there 
was also the influence of the social and religious environ- 
ments in early life in this sparsely settled, mountainous, 
sterile, backwoods town of Coventry — Benton. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 143 



CHAPTER VII. 

TOWN MEETINGS AND POLITICS. 

Coventry — Benton — was a town which almost from the 
beginning of its history made much of its town meetings, 
and its citizens were pronounced in the expression of their 
political opinions. In the early days they were for the most 
part Federalists, but later, when the north part of the town 
came to be settled, the residents of that section were Jeffer- 
son ian Democrats, and in the days of Andrew Jackson the 
town became unanimously Democratic. It remained pretty 
nearly so for years, and even after the organization of the 
Republican party, and the transference of New Hampshire 
from the Democratic column to the Republican column of 
states, Benton always remained faithful to its Democratic 
allegiance, though in the past few years the voters have 
been nearly equally divided in their political preferences, 
and once, in 1896, the Republicans elected their candidate 
for Representative to the General Court. 

In the days, however, when the town was unanimously 
or nearly unanimously Democratic, there were bitter contests 
for the town offices and for the office of representative, all 
the more bitter perhaps, since nearly all parties to the con- 
tests were Democrats. For many years there were three 
parties ; the Page party, led by James J. and Daniel D. 
Page, and having their adherents for the most part in the 
Page district, the Meadows and at High Street ; the Wells 
party, of which Capt. Enos Wells was the head, with his 
sons for lieutenants, and the Whitcher party, of which Wil- 
liam Whitcher, and later his sons, were the head. Neither 



144 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

of these parties or factions was ever quite able to control a 
majority of the voters, and so the way was opened for alli- 
ances, offensive and defensive, for bargains and deals, and 
the opportunity was improved and there were alliances, bar- 
gains and deals, and Benton political campaigns lasted all 
the year round. It was a dull boy, brought up in Benton, 
who had not become a pretty well trained politician by the 
time he reached his majority. 

But the town meetings were not wholly given over to 
politics. In proportion to its means the voters of few towns 
ever taxed themselves more generously for the support of 
highways and schools. The appropriations were made with 
care, and money raised by taxation was for the most part 
expended economically and judiciously. The first town 
meeting was held at the house of Major Jonathan Hale, Dec. 
30, 1801, and was tor the purpose of organizing a town 
government. Obadiah Eastman was chosen moderator, 
Salmon Niles, town clerk, and Samuel Jackson, Obadiah 
Eastman and Barnabas Niles, selectmen. 

The town meetings thereafter were as follows : 

[1802.] Meeting held March 9, at the house of Major 
Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Barnabas Niles ; town 
clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Samuel Jackson, Obadiah 
Eastman, William Coolidge ; constable, Elisha Ford ; sur- 
veyors of highways, James Eastman, Barnabas Niles. 

Voted to raise $38 for the support of schools, $40 for re- 
pairing roads, and $18 for town charges. 

March 24, a meeting of the voters of Haverhill and Cov- 
entry for the choice of representative in the General Court 
was held at the house of Major Jona. Hale. Chose : mod- 
erator, Dr. Ross Coon, of Haverhill ; representative, Col. 
Moody Bedell, of Haverhill. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 145 

August 30. A meeting was held to vote for members of 
Congress. Eight votes were cast, all for Samuel Tenney, 
Silas Betton, Clifton Claggett, Samuel Hunt and David 
Hough, all Federalists. 

Voted to alter the road from the foot of hill below Jona- 
than Hale's grist mill to Mr. Elisha Ford's cornfield. 

[1803.] The annual town meeting was held at the house 
of Major Jonathan Hale, March 8. Chose: moderator, 
Major Jona. Hale ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, 
Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Hale, William Coolidge ; con- 
stable and collector, Elisha Ford ; treasurer, James East- 
man ; surveyors of highways, James Eastman, Barnabas 
Niles, Nathan Mead ; hog reeves, David Marston, Jonathan 
Hale, William Blair; fence viewers, Samuel Jackson, Bar- 
nabas Niles, Hugh Matthews ; tything men, Obadiah East- 
man, Robert Elliott. 

Voted to raise $40 for the support of schools, $130 for 
making and repairing roads, $22 to defray town charges, a 
total of $192. 

March 24. At an adjourned meeting, voted for state and 
county officers. For governor, John Langdon, dem., re- 
ceived 3 votes ; John Taylor Gilman, fed., 4. Ten votes 
were cast for councillor, senator aEd county officers, of 
which the Democratic candidates received 3, and the Feder- 
alists 7. Chose: William Coolidge, pound keeper, and 
voted that the- lower stable in the barn of Salmon Niles be 
made pound. 

[1804.] Annual town meeting held March 13, at home 
of Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, William Coolidge ; 
town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, William Coolidge, 
Salmon Niles, Samuel Jackson, Jr. ; constable, Elisha 
Ford ; sealer of weights and measures, Salmon Niles ; sur- 



146 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

veyors of highways, Samuel Jackson, Barnabas Niles, Na- 
than Mead ; ty tiling man, David Marston, Jr. 

The vote for state and county officers showed that the Jef- 
fersonian leaven had begun to work. For governor John 
Taylor Gilman, fed., received 3 votes; John Langdon, 
dem., 11. For county officers 16 votes were cast, of which 
the Democratic candidates received 13. 

April 13. At an adjourned meeting voted to raise $20 
for defraying town charges, $35 for support of schools, and 
$70 to repair highways, a total of $125. 

A need was evidently felt of a pound, for the voters pro- 
ceeded to provide for one, which certainly would seem to 
have been ample in strength to hold the most unruly of cattle. 

Voted that, with the permission of Major Hale, a pound be 
built at or near the corner of his land ; said pound to be 
built of stone, 30 feet square 4 feet thick at the base, 18 
inches at the top, 6 feet high, to be capped with white pine 
or hemlock timbers 10 x 12 inches, with one gateway 3 feet 
wide, to be provided with a gate of timber not less than 3 
inches thick, and fitted to the gateway ; that the pound be 
set up at vendue to be struck off to the person who will be- 
come obligated to erect the same by the 30th day of June 
for the lowest sum of money. 

The pound was bid oft by Samuel Jackson for $18.75. 

Voted to raise $40 for the purpose of procuring a stand- 
ard of weights and measures. 

August 27. At a meeting held 11 votes were cast for 
members of Congress : Democratic 6, Federalist, 5. 

Nov. 5. At a meeting held to vote for presidential elec- 
tors, the Democratic ticket headed by Oliver Peabody re- 
ceived 6 votes, the Federalist ticket headed by John 
Goddard, 4. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 147 

[1805.] March 12. Annual town meeting was held at 
house of Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Barnabas 
Niles ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, Obadiah 
Eastman, Salmon Niles, Samuel Jackson, Jr. ; highway 
surveyors, David Marston, James Ford, Daniel Doty ; high- 
way surveyor for north district, William Coolidge ; collector 
of taxes, David Marston, at 5 per cent. Voted to raise 
$20 to defray town charges, $200 to make and repair high- 
ways, and $20 for schools. 

The vote for state and county officers showed a turn in the 
tide politically, since John Taylor Gilman, fed., received 8 
votes tor governor, and John Langdon 7. For county 
officers 17 votes were cast, and Charles Johnston received 
the entire number for county treasurer. The choice of Wil- 
liam Coolidge for surveyor of highways "in the north dis- 
trict" indicated that the settlement of that part of the town 
had been begun. 

[1806.] March 11. Annual town meeting held at the 
house of Major Jona. Hale, occupied by Daniel Davis. 
Chose : moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; town clerk, Salmon 
Niles; selectmen, William Coolidge, Samuel Jackson, Jr., 
Daniel Davis ; highway surveyors, Moses Eastman, Daniel 
Doty, Daniel Davis, William Coolidge ; pound keeper, 
Daniel Davis ; hog reeves, Daniel Doty, Jeremiah Jackson, 
Winthrop Elliott ; tything man, Obadiah Eastman; collec- 
tor of taxes and constable, David Marston, with compen- 
sation at 4 3-4 per cent. 

Aug. 25. A meeting was held to vote for representative 
in Congress. The Democratic congressional ticket headed 
by Jedediah M. Smith received 16 votes, to one cast for the 
Federalist candidates. 

[1807.] March 3. A meeting of the voters of Warren 



148 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

and Coventry for the choice of representative to the General 
Court was held at the dwelling house of Daniel Davis in 
Coventry. Chose : for moderator, William Coolidge ; for 
representative, Obadiah Eastman. 

March 10. The annual meeting was held at the dwelling 
house of Robert Forsaith. Chose : moderator, William 
Coolidge; town clerk, William Coolidge ; selectmen, Wil- 
liam Coolidge, Daniel Davis, Salmon Niles ; highway sur- 
veyors, Samuel Jackson, Salmon Niles, Nathan Mead, Wil- 
liam Whitcher ; tax collector and constable, David Marston, 
compensation 4 per cent; tything man, sealer of weights 
and measures, and surveyor of lumber, Samuel Jackson ; 
hog reeves, William Whitcher, Jonathan Marston, James 
Ford, Robert Elliott, Jr., Joseph E. Marston. Voted to 
raise $20 to defray town charges, $200 for making and re- 
pairing highways, $25 for support of schools. 

For governor 14 votes were cast, all for John Langdon. 

[1808.] March 8. Annual town meeting was held at 
the house ot James Eastman. Chose: Moderator, William 
Coolidge ; town clerk, Salmon Niles ; selectmen, William 
Coolidge, Daniel Davis, Elisha Ford ; highway surveyors, 
James Eastman, Elisha Ford, Daniel Doty, William Whit- 
cher ; tything man, William Coolidge; pound keeper, 
Daniel Davis ; hog reeves, Moses Eastman, Daniel Davis, 
Daniel Doty, William Coolidge. Voted to raise $200 for 
highways, $40 for schools, $160 for town charges, a total 
of $400. 

For governor John Langdon received 18 votes, John 
Taylor Gilman, 1. 

Aug. 29. At the Congressional election the Federal can- 
didates received 14 votes, the Democratic 8. 

Nov. 4. At the Presidential election the Federal elec- 



'EXTET—BEXTOX. X. H. la- 

teral ticket headed by Jeremiah Smith rec ei v e d 10 rotes, the 
Democratic, headed by John Langdon, 8. Coventry pol- 
itiea for the rear 1808 are not easily understood. 

":S:-y." -•-.-.'." A -S----..-Z --':.-.-.:--'-.- *1 .--.-- 
try and Warren for the choice of representatives was held at 
•':.-. :. ;••: .: Z'l-.Z. Z' --■■:-. Z'z. —. n:-:rri::r. '"' : \ f iir: 
Kaufman ; representative. Daniel Da 

March 14. Annual town meeting was held at home of 
Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Obadiah Eastman, town 
clerk, Salmon XOes : selectmen, Daniel Davis. Samuel 
Jackson, Jr.. Moses Eastman: highway surveyors, Samuel 
Jackson, Jr., Benjamin Woodbury, Robert Elliott, Jr., 
William Whkcher: tax collector and constable, Salmon 
Xiles. who agreed to collect taxes free of expense to the 
town ; superintending school committee. William Coolidge, 
** - . ■--.'>. Ar :i -\'.'.. " '.'— : X .!:■ : '.■.•:::-•. V - rf Z ■- 

. Z :- 
:ed to raise $60 for town charges, $200 for highw 
$64 for schools, a total of $324. 

Z - gorernor, John Langdon, dem., received 13 rotes, 
Jeremiah Smith, fed.. 13. 

[i8io.~ March 13. Annual town meeting was held at 
hous e of Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Samuel Aspin- 
wall ; town clerk. Samuel Aspinwall ; selectmen. Daniel 
Davis. Samuel Jackson, Jr.. Moses Eastman: highway 
surveyors. Robert Jackson, Benjamin Woodbury, Robert 
EH ion. Jr., Jonathan Marston, Jesse Tyler; superintend- 
ing school committee, Obadiah Eastman, Daniel D 
William Coolidge ; collector of taxes, Samuel Jack s on, Jr. , 
to collect free of expense to the town ; constable, Benjamin 
Woodbury : hog reeres. Peter Eastman, Winthrop Elliott, 
William Mead, Jonathan Marston. 



150 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Voted to raise $300 for highways, $70 for schools, $35 
for town charges. 

For governor John Langdon received 13 votes, Jeremiah 
Smith 8. 

Aug. 7. At a meeting to vote for members of Congress 
held at the house of James Eastman only five votes were 
cast, all for Josiah Bartlett, John A. Harper, David L. 
Morrill, Samuel Densmore, Obed Hale. 

[i8ii.] March 5. The voters of Warren and Coventry 
met at the house of Samuel Aspinwall in Coventry for the 
choice of representatives to the General Court. Chose : 
moderator, Obadiah Eastman ; representative, Abel Merrill. 

March 12. Annual town meeting was held at house of 
Daniel Davis. Chose : moderator, Daniel Davis ; town 
clerk, Samuel Aspinwall; selectmen, Daniel Davis, Samuel 
Jackson, Jr., Moses Eastman; superintending school com- 
mittee, Obadiah Eastman, Daniel Davis, William Coolidge. 

Voted to raise $200 for highways, $20 to defray town 
charges, $70 for schools. The vote for governor was : 
John Langdon 11, Jere Smith 1. 

[1812.] March 13. The annual town meeting was held 
at the house of James Eastman. Chose : moderator, Wil- 
liam Coolidge; town clerk, Samuel Aspinwall; selectmen, 
Daniel Davis, Samuel Aspinwall, Obadiah Eastman. 

Voted that Samuel Aspinwall, Elisha Ford, Daniel Davis, 
David Marston and Kimball Tyler be a committee to divide 
the town into school districts. 

Voted to raise $70 for schools, $30 for town charges, and 
$200 for highways. The vote for governor was : for Wil- 
liam Plumer 12, John Taylor Gillman 8. 

Nov. 2. At the Congressional and Presidential election 
the Democratic ticket received 10 votes, the Federalist 1. 



CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, K. H. 151 

[1813.] March 9. The annual town meeting was held 
at the house of James Eastman. Chose: moderator, Wil- 
liam Collidge ; town clerk, William Coolidge ; selectmen, 
William Coolidge, David Marston, Abner Willoughby ; 
collector of taxes, William Whitcher, with compensation at 
1-2 of 1 per cent. 

The report of the committee dividing the town into five 
school districts was accepted. 

Voted to raiee for highways $200, for schools $70 for 
town charges $50, total $320. 

The records of the town for the years 1811-1813 were 
very imperfectly kept. 

[1814.] March 8. The annual town meeting was held 
at the dwelling house of William Coolidge. This was the 
first time the meeting was held in the north part of the town. 
There were 45 names on the check list. Chose : moderator, 
Jonathan Hale ; town clerk, Samuel Aspinwall ; selectmen, 
William Whitcher, Samuel Jackson, Obadiah Eastman; 
highway surveyors, Abraham Xorris, William Rogers, Sam- 
uel Fairbanks, James Ford, Obadiah Eastman ; tything 
men, Stephen Jeffers, Samuel Morrill ; treasurer, James 
Eastman ; fence viewer Chase Whitcher. 

Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $70, for 
town charges $110. 

The vote for governor was : for William Plumer 21, for 
John Taylor Gilman 21. On the question of calling a con- 
stitutional convention 43 votes were given in the negative. 

Voted to divide the town into five highway districts. 

Aug. 29. At the Congressional election held this day, 
15 votes were given for the Democratic ticket headed by 
John F. Parrat, and 10 for the Federal ticket headed by 
David Webster. A tax of $95.30 was levied to build a 



152 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

school house in district No. 5. 

[1815.] Feb. 23. At a special town meeting Daniel 
Davis was chosen town clerk to fill vacancy caused by re- 
moval of Samuel Aspinwall from town, and Robert Jackson 
selectman to fill vacancy caused by removal of Samuel 
Jackson. 

March 9. At a meeting of voters ot Warren and Coven- 
try at the house of James Eastman for choice of representa- 
tive to the General Court. Chose : moderator, Jonathan 
Merrill ; representative, Capt. Joseph Patch. 

March 14. Annual meeting was held at house of James 
Eastman. Chose : moderator, James Eastman ; town clerk, 
Daniel Davis ; selectmen, James Eastman, Robert Jackson, 
Obadiah Eastman ; highway surveyors, William Rogers, 
Peter Howe, Jr., Stephen Lund, John Russell, Robert 
Jackson. 

Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $75, for 
town charges $65. The vote tor governor was : John Taylor 
Gilman 4, William Plumer 17. 

[1816.] March 12. Annual meeting at house of James 
Eastman. Chose : moderator, Daniel Davis ; selectmen, 
James Eastman, William Whitcher, Elisha Ford; highway 
surveyors, Stephen Jeffers, Moses L. Hobart, James East- 
man, Elisha Tyler, William Whitcher; collector of taxes, 
Jeremiah Jackson, compensation to be 4 3-4 per cent. 

Voted to raise for roads $300, for schools $100, for town 
charges $50. The vote for governor was : James Sheafe, 
fed., 7, William Plumer, dem., 20. 

Nov. 4. At the Congressional and Presidential election 
Jeremiah Jackson was elected moderator. Only seven votes 
were cast for congressmen and electors, and those were all 
for the Democratic candidates. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 153 

[1817.] March 4. A meeting of Warren and Coventry 
voters was held at the house of Moses L. Hobart in Coven- 
try for the choice of representative to the General Court. 
Chose : moderator, Jonathan Merrill ; representative, Capt. 
Joseph Patch. 

March 11. Annual meeting held in school house in dis- 
trict No. 1, High Street. Chose: moderator, Jonathan 
Hale; town clerk, Daniel Davis; selectmen, Daniel Davis, 
Robert Jackson, Moses L. Hobart ; constables, David 
Marston, Elisha Ford ; highway surveyors, Samuel Page, 
Nahum WilJey, Obadiah Eastman, Moses Knight, William 
Whitcher. 

Voted to raise for schools $200, highways $200, town 
charges $35, for support of poor $50. 

Voted that the poor be set up at auction. The support 
of Daniel Tyler was bid off by Kimball Tyler at 62 cents a 
week, and Persis Tyler by William Whitcher at 5 cents a 
week. 

The vote for governor was : William Plumer, 1 ; James 
Sheafe, 5 ; Josiah Bartlett, 25. 

Sept 6. At a special town meeting called to fill the 
vacancy in the board of selectmen, caused by the removal of 
Moses L. Hobart from town, chose William Whitcher. 

Voted that the selectmen be vested with powers to lease 
or release a certain cow to Hugh Matthews, now the proper- 
ty of the town. 

[1818.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held at 
the school house in district No. 1. Chose : moderator, David 
Marston ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, William 
Whitcher, Enos Wells, Jonathan Marston ; highway survey- 
ors, J. B. Davis, Jonathan Hale, James Eastman, Kimball 
Tyler, Peter Howe, Jr. ; collector, David Marston, with 



154 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

compensation at 4 1-2 per cent ; constables, David Marston, 
Elisha Ford. 

Voted to raise for town charges $60, schools $150, roads 
$300, to pay town indebtedness $150. 

The vote for governor was : Josiah Bartlett 7, William 
Plumer 26. 

[1819.] March 9. Annual town meeting was held at 
the school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Enos 
Wells ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, James 
Eastman, Obadiah Eastman, Jonathan Marston ; highway 
surveyors, Timothy Ayer, John Buswell, Samuel Page, John 
Huntress, David Marston ; treasurer, Moses Knight ; col- 
lector, William Whitcher, with compensation at 1 per cent ; 
constables, Jonathan Marston, John Buswell. On refusal 
of Capt. William Whitcher to serve as collector, David 
Marston was chosen. 

Voted to raise for support of schools $150, town charges 
$50, roads $200. The vote for governor was Samuel Bell 
21. 

March 13. The voters of Warren and Coventry met in 
Coventry for choice of representatives. Chose Capt. Joseph 
Patch, representative. 

[1820.] March 14. The annual town meeting was held 
at the school house district No 1. Chose : moderator, Jon- 
athan Hale ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, Rob- 
ert Jackson, Enos Wells, Obadiah Eastman ; highway sur- 
veyors, Robert Jackson, Elisha Ford, Stephen Jeffers, Kim- 
ball Tyler, Peter Howe ; collector, John Buswell, with com- 
pensation at 2 per cent. 

Voted to raise for highways $225, for schools $150, for 
town charges $70. The vote for governor was for Samuel 
Bell 30. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 155 

[1821.] March 13. Annual meeting was held at the 
school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, David 
Marston ; town clerk, Obadiah Eastman ; selectmen, Enos 
Wells, Robert Jackson, Obadiah Eastman ; highway survey- 
ors, James Harford, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Aaron 
Knight, Augustus Coburn. 

For governor 31 votes were cast, all for Samuel Bell. 

Voted to raise for highways $200, for schools $150, for 
town charges $29 to be expended in care of the poor. 

[1822. J Jan. 9. At a special town meeting, chose : 
Jesse Eastman, town clerk, and Elijah Gray, selectman, to 
fill vacancy caused by the removal of Obadiah Eastman from 
town. 

March 12. The annual town meeting was held in the 
school house in district No. 1. Chose: moderator, David 
Marston ; town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos 
Wells, Joseph Niles, David Marston ; highway surveyors, 
Samuel Jackson, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Kimball 
Tyler, Augustus Coburn ; collector, Aaron Knight. For 
governor 29 votes were cast, all for Samuel Bell. 

Voted to raise for highways $250, for schools $150, for 
town charges and support of the poor $75. 

[1823.] March 11. Annual meeting at the house of 
James Eastman. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town 
clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Joseph 
Niles, William Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Jesse East- 
man, David Elliott, Samuel Page, Aaron Knight, Nathaniel 
Howe; treasurer, Enos Wells; collector, David Marston, 
with compensation at 2 per cent. For governor 41 votes 
were cast, all for Levi Woodbury. 

Voted to raise for roads $300, for schools $100, for town 
charges $125. 



156 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

March 12. The voters of Warren and Coventry met at 
the house of James Eastman for choice of representative. 
Chose : moderator, Daniel Patch ; representative, Col. Amos 
Tarleton. 

[1824.] March 9. Annual town meeting. Chose : 
moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk ; David Marston ; 
selectmen, Enos Wells, Daniel Batchelder, Augustus 
Coburn ; highway surveyors, Timothy Ayer, Daniel Batch- 
elder, Caleb Page, Israel Flanders, David Marston ; collec- 
tor, David Marston, with compensation at 3 1-2 per cent. 
For governor 43 votes were cast, all of which were for Levi 
Woodbury. (Coventry had by this time become a pretty 
reliable Democratic town.) 

Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $100, town 
charges $95. 

[1825.] March 8. Annual meeting at the school house 
near James Eastman's. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; 
town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Daniel 
Batchelder, James J. Page ; highway surveyors, Jonathan 
Welch, David Elliott, Stephen Jeflers, James Ball, Nathan- 
iel Home ; treasurer, Enos Wells ; collector, David Mars- 
ton, with compensation at 3 1-2 per cent. For governor 47 
votes were cast, all for David L. Morrill. 

Voted to raise for highways $300, for town charges $70, 
for schools $100. Voted to accept the North and South 
road as a laid out highway. 

[1826.] March 4. Annual town meeting in school 
house in district No. 4. Chose : moderator, Enos W T ells ; 
town clerk, David Marston ; selectmen, Enos Wells, James 
J.Page, William Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Daniel 
Patch, David Elliott, Moses Mead, James H. Cox, Jona- 
than Marston ; collector, David Marston, with compensa- 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 157 

tion at 2 per cent. For governor, and other state, and coun- 
ty officers, 44 votes were cast, all for Democratic candidates. 

Voted to raise for town charges $125, for schools $100, 
for roads $300. 

[1857.] March 13. Annual meeting held at house of 
Maj. Jonathan Hale. Chose : moderator, Daniel Patch ; 
town clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, James 
J. Page, Jesse Eastman ; highway surveyors, Daniel Patch, 
Jonathan Hale, James J. Page, Enos Wells, William 
Whitcher ; collector, Moses Mead, with compensation at 2 
per cent. For governor, congressmen and state and county 
officers 40 votes were cast for the Democratic ticket. 

March 15. The voters of Coventry and Warren met at 
the school house in district No. 1 for the choice of represen- 
tative. Chose : moderator, James Dow ; representative, 
Enos Wells. 

Aug. 18. James Eastman deeded the burying ground 
at High Street to the town. 

[1828.] March 11. Annual town meeting held in 
school house, district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Daniel 
Patch ; town clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, 
Jesse Eastman, Augustus Coburn ; highway surveyors, 
Daniel Patch, Thomas W. Ford, Samuel Page, James Ball, 
Nathaniel Howe, Elisha Tyler; collector, Moses Mead, at 
2 1-2 per cent. The vote for governor was : Benjamin 
Pierce 50, John Bell 4. 

Voted to raise for town charges $40, for schools the 
amount required by law, for building and repairing high- 
ways $500. 

Chose Enos Wells agent of the town to secure from the 
legislature an act entitling the town to representation in the 
General Court. There were 81 names on the check list. 



158 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Nov 3. At an election held for presidential electors the 
ticket headed by John Harvey (Jackson) received 39 votes, 
that headed by George Sullivan (Adams) received 12 votes. 

[1829.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held in 
district No. 1. Chose: moderator, Daniel Patch; town 
clerk, Jesse Eastman ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Augustus 
Coburn, Jesse Eastman. 

For the first time Coventry elected a representative to the 
General Court as a town by itself. The effort to secure a 
special act had been successful, and Enos Wells was elected 
representative. The vote for governor was : Benjamin 
Pierce 46, John Bell 11. 

Voted to raise for highways $500, town charges $87, for 
schools $100. 

[1830.] March 9. Annual town meeting held at the 
dwelling house of David Marston, North Coventry. Chose : 
moderator, Daniel Patch ; town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; se- 
lectmen, James J. Page, Augustus Coburn, Nathan Coburn ; 
representative to General Court, Nathan Coburn ; collector, 
James J. Page, with compensation at 2 per cent. The vote 
for governor was : Matthew Harvey 56, Timothy Upham 7. 
It was voted to divide the fourth school district, creating the 
sixth in the east part of the town. 

Voted to raise for schools $100 for town charges $87, 
for highways $400. 

[1831.] March 9. The annual town meeting was held 
in the school house in district No. 5 for the first time. 
Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk Nathan Coburn, 
selectmen, Nathan Coburn, James J. Page ; representative, 
Nathan Coburn. The vote for governor was: Samuel 
Dinsmore 58, Ichabod Bartlett 5. It was voted to divide 
the town into seven school districts. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 159 

Voted to raise tor support of schools $100, town charges 
$200, roads $500, poor $110. 

[1832.] March 13. Annual town meeting at dwelling 
house of David Marston. Chose : moderator, Enos Wells ; 
town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; selectmen, Enos Wells, Jesse 
Eastman, Jr., Nathan Coburn. The vote for governor 
was : Samuel Dinsmore 68, Ichabod Bartlett 4. 

Voted to raise for schools $100, town charges $300, high- 
ways $300. 

Nov 2. At a meeting to vote for presidential electors the 
vote for electoral ticket, headed by Benjamin Pierce (Jack- 
son), was 57, for that headed by Langley Boardman (Clay) 
was 6. 

[1833.] March 12. Annual town meeting at school 
house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batch- 
elder, Jr. ; town clerk, Nathan Coburn ; selectmen, Nathp.n 
Coburn, James J. Page, Daniel Batchelder, Jr. ; represen- 
tative, Nathan Coburn. 

Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $150, for 
town charges $75. 

[1834.] March 11. Annual town meeting held at the 
dwelling house of Deliverance Woodward. Chose : moder- 
ator, Daniel Batchelder ; town clerk, Deliverance Wood- 
ward ; selectmen, Daniel Batchelder, Nathan Coburn, De- 
liverance Woodward ; representative, Daniel Batchelder. 
For governor 73 votes were cast, all for William Badger. 

Voted to raise for highways $300, for schools $150, for 
town charges and poor $300. 

[1835.] March 10. Annual town meeting, school 
house, district No. 5. Chose: moderator, Daniel Batchel- 
der; town clerk, Nathan Coburn; selectmen, Daniel Batch- 
elder, Nathan Coburn, David Whitcher ; representative, 



160 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Daniel Batchelder. The vote for governor was : William 
Badger, dem., 72, Joseph Healey, whig, 2. 

Voted to raise for town charges and poor $500, for high- 
ways $500, for schools $150. 

Oct. 31. Special town meeting. Chose: Moses Whitcher 
town clerk, to fill vacancy caused by removal of Nathan 
Coburn from town ; James J. Page selectman, to fill vacancy 
caused by removal of Nathan Coburn ; Peter Howe select- 
man, to fill vacancy caused by death of David Whitcher. 

[1836.] March 8. Annual meeting at house of Deliv- 
erance Woodward. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batchelder ; 
town clerk, Deliverance Woodward ; selectmen, James J. 
Page, Deliverance Woodward, Daniel Batchelder; repre- 
tative, Daniel Batchelder ; highway surveyors, Alvah Ayer, 
Deliverance Woodward, Stephen Jeffers, Jonathan Marston, 
Chellis Goodwin, Nathan B. Davis, Jacob Whitcher, John 
Stow ; sealer of weights and measures, Moses Whitcher ; 
constables, James J. Page, Alvah C. Wright ; superintend- 
ing school committee, David Page, Moses Whitcher, Daniel 
Batchelder ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, Peter 
Howe, Jacob Currier, John P. Ayer, Nathan B. Davis. 

For governor, Isaac Hill 78 votes ; William Badger 1. 

Voted to raise for town charges and poor $300, highways 
$100, schools $150. 

There is no record of a meeting in November for the 
choice of presidential electors. 

[1837.] March 14. Meeting in school house, district 
No. 5. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; town clerk, 
Deliverance Woodward; selectmen, Enos Wells, James J. 
Page, Peter Howe ; highway surveyors, John Lathrop, D. 
Woodward, Stephen Jeffers, Asa Smith, Chellis Goodwin, 
Nathan B. Davis, Jacob Whitcher, Elisha Tyler ; sealer of 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 161 

weights and measures, D. Woodward ; surveyors of lumber, 
Moses Whitcher, D. Woodward, Peter Howe; hog reeves, 
Caleb S. Ford, Elijah S. Gray, Moses Mead, Edwin Tyler, 
Alfred Tyler, William Whitcher, Jr. ; constables, Moses 
Mead, Nathan B. Davis; representative to General Court, 
Enos Wells. For governor 65 votes were cast, all for 
Isaac Hill. 

Voted to receive from the state the "surplus revenues." 

Voted that Deliverance Woodward be agent to receive the 
town's proportion. 

Voted that it shall be at the option of the agent to receive 
it in specie or bills. 

Voted that the money be loaned to inhabitants of the 
town in sums of not more than $100, or less than $25, to a 
single individual, on real estate security. 

Voted that the town bring suit against the town of Bos- 
cawen tor support of Betsey Bowley, and that James J. Page 
be agent to prosecute the action. 

[1838.] March 13. Annual meeting at house of Ben- 
jamin Little. Chose : moderator, Daniel Batchelder ; se- 
lectmen, Enos Wells, James J. Page, Peter Howe; repre- 
sentative, Daniel Batchelder ; highway surveyors, John 
Cummings, Benjamin Little, Stephen JefFers, James H. 
Cox, Peter Howe, Alfred Tyler, Jacob Whitcher, Jonas G. 
Brown ; constables, Daniel Batchelder, William Gannett, 
Moses Whitcher ; surveyors of lumber, John Lathrop, Wil- 
liam Gannett, Peter Howe, Moses Whitcher, Jonas G. 
Brown ; sextons, Jonathan Marston, Jacob Whitcher; tyth- 
ing men, Enos Wells, Peter Howe. The vote for governor 
was : for Isaac Hill 72, James Wilson 7. 

Voted to raise for town charges and poor $250, for 
schools $150, highways $600. 



162 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Voted that James J. Page be agent to take charge of the 

© © © 

"surplus money." 

[1839.] March 12. Annual meeting in school house, 
district No. 5. Chose : moderator, David Page ; town clerk, 
Enos Wells ; selectmen, Moses Whitcher, David Page, 
Winthrop G. Torsey ; representative, Daniel Batchelder ; 
highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Caleb S. Ford, Ste- 
phen Jefters, Richard Brown, William Whitcher, Jr., Israel 
Flanders, Hazen Whitcher, William Keyser ; school tax 
collectors, Jonathan Welch, Caleb S. Ford, David Page, 
Bartlett Marston, Moses Whitcher, Nathan B. Davis ; sealer 
of weights and measures, Amos Whitcher ; constables, 

© 

Moses Whitcher, Daniel Batchelder, James J. Page, John 
Cummings ; tything men, Nathan B. Davis, Samuel Tyler. 
The vote tor governor was : John Page 77, James Wilson 
11. Voted to raise for town charges and poor $300, for 
schools $150, highways $300. 

August 20. Special town meeting in district No. 5 
school house. Voted "to discontinue the Meadow road from 
Haverhill town line to Warren town line, provided the Turn- 
pike Company assume to build and repair said road, and 
assume liabilities." Chose a committee of five to carry this 
vote into effect — Daniel Batchelder, Moses Whitcher, Win- 
throp G. Torsey, Enos Wells, James J. Page. [The con- 
dition imposed on the Turnpike Company was not accepted.] 
Voted that Capt. Amos Whitcher make out a roll of the 
soldiers who did military duty in 1838, and the selectmen 
pay the soldiers. 

[1840.] March 10. Annual town meeting was held at 
the school house in district No. 5. Chose : moderator, 
James J. Page; town clerk, Enos Wells ; selectmen, James 
J. Page, Enos Wells, Moses Whitcher ; representative, 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 1 63 

James J. Page ; highway surveyors, Jonathan Welch, Solon 
Woodward, Samuel Page, Winthrop G. Torsey, Samuel 
Mann, Nathan B. Davis, Hazen Whitcher, Elisha Tyler; 
school tax collectors, Josiah F. Jefters, David Elliott, M. 
Hull, W. G. Torsey, Ira Whitcher, John Stow, Jr. ; Con- 
stables, Moses Whitcher, Daniel Batchelder. The vote for 
governor was : John Page 74, Enos Stevens 6. 

Voted that James J. Page, Enos Wells, Moses Whitcher, 
and Daniel Batchelder be a committee to transact any busi- 
ness relative to the Meadow road, and that the town raise 
$320 to be expended under their direction. Voted to hold 
the annual meetings in the north and south parts alternately. 

November 2. The meeting to vote for presidential elec- 
tors was held in the school house in district No. 5. For the 
Democratic ticket, headed by John W. Weeks, 73 votes were 
given ; for the Whig ticket, headed by James Healy, 9. 

It was in the year 1840 that the town took the name of 
Benton, an act changing the name from Coventry having 
been passed by the legislature of 1839, which was ratified at 
the annual meeting in March, 1840, by a vote of 77 to 2, 
Major Samuel Mann and Ira Whitcher giving the two neg- 
ative votes. There were two motives for the change : Cov- 
entry was a backwoods town, and Coventry people were the 
objects of ridicule on the part of the aristocratic class in Bath 
and Haverhill. If only the name Coventry could be got- 
ten rid of! Then there was no doubt as to the political sen- 
timent of the town. A community, who in the year of "Tip- 
pecanoe and Tyler, too," would stand by Martin Van Buren 
by a vote of 73 to 9, might pretty safely be called a Demo- 
cratic town. And was not Thomas H. Benton of Missouri, 
who, according to the plan of the Jackson dynasty, was to 
succeed Martin Van Buren in 1844, the heir apparent to 



1 64 SOME THINGS ABO UT 

Democratic idolatry ? Coventry would rid itself of its hated 
name and at the same time swear allijjiance to the coming 
president, and it did it. But the result of the election of 
1840 blasted the hopes of the Missouri senator, and a change 
of name did not change the character of the town. It was 
in this year, 1840, too, that the factions, which for the next 
thirty years contended for political and official honors in the 
town, were separated by pretty clear dividing lines. Whigs, 
and later Republicans, did not count for much, and were 
pretty thoroughly absorbed in one or the other of the Demo- 
cratic factions, Page — Wells — Whitcher. From 1840 to 
1870 inclusive no one was elected a representative to the 
General court unless he bore the name of Page, or Wells, 
or Whitcher, except for the years 1857 and 1860, when 
George W. Mann, who had married a Whitcher, was elected. 
No one of these factions ever had of itself a clear majority of 
the votes, and this fact led to deals and bargains, and the 
good old Democratic doctrine always prevailed that "to the 
victors belong the spoils." The chief political prize was the 
office of representative, but there were other spoils — town 
clerk, selectmen, highway surveyors, tax collector, school 
committee, not to mention fence viewers, hog reeves, and 
such like. Politics was a serious business to the voters of 
Benton. A campaign began on the evening of the March 
election and usually lasted all through the year, when com- 
pacts more or less binding were made and unmade. Politics 
entered into business relations, into social life, into church 
life, even sometimes becoming a factor in revivals of religion. 
The town in these thirty years, until by death or removal of 
the leaders of the factions, was a town of partisans. In the 
year 1840, a Page was elected representative, and a Page, 
Welle, and Whitcher made up the board of selectmen, but it 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 1 65 

wa8 not till long years afterwards that this latter was repeat- 
ed. 

[1841.] March 9. Annual town meeting held at dwell- 
ing house of Chase Whitcher on North and South road. 
Chose : moderator, James J. Page ; town clerk, Moses 
Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, Moses Whitcher, 
John Lathrop ; representative, James J. Page by a vote of 
68 to 4 for Moses Whitcher. For governor, John Page 
received 69, all the votes cast. Highway surveyors, John 
Lathrop, Solon M. Woodward, Lewis Sawyer, Joseph 
Annis, Ira Whitcher, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, 
Humphrey P. Tyler ; school tax collectors, John Lathrop, 
Caleb S. Ford, Aaron Knight, Charles K. Merrill, Ira 
Whitcher, John C. Brown ; constables, Daniel Batchelder, 
Ira Whitcher, Caleb S. Ford ; tything men, James J. Page, 
Moses Whitcher, John Lathrop. One looks in vain for the 
name Wells in the foregoing list. The "thirty years' warfare" 
between the factions had begun in earnest. 

Voted to raise for town expenses and support of town 
poor $250, for highways $300, for schools $150. 

[1842.] March 8. Annual town meeting held in dis- 
trict No. 5. school house. Chose : moderator, James J. 
Page; town clerk, Moses Whitcher, selectmen, James J. 
Page, John Lathrop, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, 
Alvah C. Wright, David Elliott, James J. Page, Orrin 
Marston, Ira Whitcher, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen W T hitcher, 
Humphrey P. Tyler; sealer of weights and measures, Caleb 
S. Ford ; surveyors of lumber, John Stow, Jr. , James J. 
Page, Ira Whitcher, John Lathrop, Moses Whitcher; con- 
stables, Caleb S. Ford, Ira Whitcher. The whole number 
of ballots cast for representative was 69. Moses Whitcher 
had 48, James J. Page 10, Enos Wells 1, and Moses 



166 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Whitcher was elected. For governor Henry Hubbard had 
67, Enos Stevens 4. Voted to raise for town expenses and 
support of poor $300, for highways $350, for schools $150. 

[1843.] March 14. Annual town meeting at house of 
John Buswell. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; town 
clerk, Moses Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, John 
Lathrop, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Alvah Ayer, 
Caleb S. Ford, Benjamin Parker, Gilbert P. Wright, David 
M. Howe, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, Humphrey 
P. Tyler ; surveyors of lumber, Moses Whitcher, Ira Whitch- 
er, John Lathrop, James J. Page, Caleb S. Ford ; supt. 
school committee, James J. Page, John Lathrop, Moses 
Whitcher, William Whitcher. For representative, James J. 
Pao-e had 1 vote, Moses Whitcher 45, and Moses Whitcher 
was declared elected. The vote for governor stood : Henry 
Hubbard 48, John M. White 4, Anthony Colby 2. Voted 
to raise for town charges $300, for schools $100, for high- 
ways $300. Voted that the interest on the surplus revenue 
be distributed equally among the ratable polls on the 1st of 
April. 

[1844.] March 12. Annual town meeting in district 
No. 5 school house. Chose : moderator, James J. Page ; 
town clerk, Moses Whitcher ; selectmen, James J. Page, 
Ira Whitcher, Winthrop G. Torsey ; highway surveyors, 
James Harriman, James J. Page, John Buswell, Bartlett 
Marston, James Norris, Samuel Whitcher, Hazen Whitcher, 
William K. Bruce; surveyors lumber, William Eastman, 
Moses Whitcher, Enos Wells, John Brown, Jacob Currier; 
superintending school committee ; Moses Whitcher, James 
J. Page, John Lathrop. 

On the first ballot for representative there was no choice. 
It stood, James J. Page 10, Enos Wells 17, John Lathrop 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 167 

20, Moses Whitcher 40. The second ballot resulted as fol- 
lows : James J. Page 4, Enos Wells 14, John Lathrop 16, 
Moses Whitcher 53, and Moses Whitcher was declared 
elected. The vote for governor was: John H. Steele 81, 
John H. White 6. Voted to raise for schools $150, for 
town charges $300, for highways $400. 

Nov. 4. At the Presidential election the Democratic 
ticket, headed by William Badger, received 83 votes, and 
the Whig ticket, headed by Joseph Low, 8 votes. 

[1845.] March 11. Annual town meeting at the dwell- 
ing house of John Lathrop. Chose ; moderator, Ira 
Whitcher; town clerk, Moses Whitcher; selectmen, Enos 
Wells, Nathan B. Davis, Winthrop G. Torsey ; highway 
surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, John Buswell, Ephraim Cross, 
Joseph Annis, George W. Mann, Noah C. Hutchins, Hazen 
Whitcher, William K. Bruce ; surveyors of lumber, Moses 
Whitcher, William Eastman, Ira Whitcher, James J. 
Page, Enos Wells ; constables, Nathan B. Davis, James 
Norris, Caleb S. Ford ; superintending school committee, 
James J. Page, Nathan B. Davis, Moses Whitcher. 

William Eastman was elected sealer of weights and meas- 
ures and was re-elected annually for a period of 28 years. 

Ira Whitcher was elected representative on the second 
ballot. The result of the first ballot was : James J. Page 
1, William Whitcher 1, Moses Whitcher 2, Jeremiah B. 
Davis 2, Enos Wells 40, Ira Whitcher 40 ; second ballot, 
Enos Wells 40, Ira Whitcher 45. 

The vote for governor was : John H. Steele 71, Anthony 
Colby 10, scattering 2. 

Voted to raise for town charges $300, for schools $200, 
for highways $350. 

[1846.] March 10. Annual town meeting in school 



168 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

house, district No. 5. Chose : moderator, Ira VVhitcher ; 
town clerk, Moses VVhitcher ; selectmen James J. Page, 
Jeremiah B. Davis, George W. Mann ; highway surveyors, 
Josiah F. Jeffers, Daniel Bailey, Daniel D. Page, Winthrop 
G. Torsey, David M. Howe, Nathan B. Davis, Jeremiah A. 
Clark, Joseph Hutchins ; surveyors of lumber, William 
Eastman, N. B. Davis, Moses VVhitcher, Enos Wells, John 
Stow, Jonathan Clement ; constables, Daniel D. Page, Jo- 
siah F. Jeffers, Ira VVhitcher, James Norris, Chase VVhit- 
cher, 2nd. 

The ballot for representative resulted as follows : Samuel 
Howe 2, James J. Page 3, Enos Wells 22, Ira Wh-itcher 
(55. The vote for governor was : Jared M. Williams 68, 
Nathaniel S. Berry 9, Anthony Colby 9. 

Voted to raise for town charges $250, for highways $400, 
for schools $200. 

March 21. Ira Whitcher was appointed town clerk to fill 
the vacancy caused by death of Moses Whitcher. 

[1847.] March 9. Meeting at house of John Bus well. 
Chose: moderator, Enos Wells ; town clerk, Ira VVhitcher ; 
selectmen, Enos Wells, Peter Howe, Jonas G. Brown ; 
highway surveyors, Robert Gray, Caleb S. Ford, Jonathan 
Marston, William VVhitcher, Israel Flanders, John Brown, 
Sewell Waterman, Joseph Annis ; constables, James Harri- 
man, William F. Morse, Caleb Ford ; surveyors of lumber, 
Ira Whitcher, James J. Page, William Eastman, John 
Stow, Enos Wells, William Whitcher ; superintending 
school committee, James J. Page, George W. Mann, 
Peter Howe. The result of the election for selectmen and 
representative was a pretty complete triumph for the Wells 
faction, and Messrs. Page and Mann declined toserve. This 
left "Uncle Peter" in charge of the schools for the year. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 169 

One should have known "Uncle Peter" to properly appreci- 
ate the situation. He could read and write and "figger," 
and his library consisted of the Bible and the Farmers' 
Almanac.) 

There were two ballots for representative. The first 
stood : Winthrop G. Torsey 1, William K. Bruce 1, Ira 
Whitcher 1, William C. Stow 1, Daniel D. Page 1, Sam- 
uel Howe 6, James J. Page 35, Enos Wells 43. On the 
second ballot Capt. Enos won out as follows : whole number 
of ballots 90, W. G. Torsey 1, John Stow 1, Daniel D. 
Page 1, Samuel Howe 4, James J. Page 32, Enos Wells 
51. (The Page contingent were, however, on deck the next 
year, and Capt. Wells did not secure the usual second term.) 

The vote for governor was : Jared W. Williams 78, An- 
thony Colby 10, Nathaniel S. Berry 5. 

Voted to raise for schools $200, for town charges $200, 
for highways $300. 

[1848.] March 14. Annual town meeting at district 
No. 5 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; 
town clerk, Ira Whitcher; selectmen, Daniel D. Page, Jo- 
nas G. Brown, Jonathan Hunkings ; highway surveyors, 
Jonathan Welch, William Gannett, Daniel D. Page, Jona- 
than Marston, William Whitcher, Noah C. Hutchins, J. 
Dean Norris, John Brown, Samuel C. Annis ; constables, 
William Gannett, George W. Mann, Robert Gray; sur- 
veyors of lumber, William Eastman, William C. Stow, Ira 
Whitcher, Jonas G. Brown ; superintending school commit- 
tee, Jonathan Hunkings, Darius K. Davis, James J. Page. 

James J. Page was elected representative on the first 
ballot : whole number of votes 90 ; W. G. Torsey 1, Samuel 
Howe 9, Enos Wells, 33, James J. Page 47. 

The vote for governor was : Jared W. Williams 83, 



170 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Nathaniel S. Berry 9. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $300, schools $250, 
highways $400. 

Nov. 7. At the meeting to vote for presidential electors 
the ticket headed by Samuel Tilton received 75 votes, and 
that headed by James Bell 11. 

[1849.] March 13. Meeting at dwelling house of Wil- 
liam Gannett. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, Ira Whitcher; selectmen, Daniel D. Page, Nathan B. 
Davis, Jonathan Ilunkings ; highway surveyors, James Har- 
riman, Jacob Place, James A. Cox, William Whitcher, 
William Davis, Merrill Norris, W. Carlos Stow, Samuel C. 
Annis ; surveyors of lumber, William Eastman, W. C. 
Stow, Jonas G. Brown, Amos Whitcher, Robert Gray, 
Enos Wells ; superintending school committee, James J. 
Page, George W. Mann, William Eastman. 

The whole number of votes cast for representative was 82. 
Ira Whitcher received 1, Darius K. Davis 1, Robert Coburn 
1, Nathan B. Davis 3, Winthrop G. Torsey 11, Enos Wells 
18, James J. Page 47, and James J. Page was declared 
elected. 

The vote for governor was: Samuel Dinsmore 79, N. S. 
Chamberlin 13, Nathaniel S. Berry 4. 

Voted to raise for town charges $250, for highways $500, 
schools $200. 

On an article in the warrant to see if the town would vote 
to settle the Rev. William C. Bixby as minister and give 
him the minister lot of 100 acres of land, voted in the 
negative. 

[1850.] March 12. Annual meeting in school house, 
district No. 5. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town 
clerk, Chase Whitcher; selectmen, Nathan B. Davis, James 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 171 

J. Page, Josiah F. Jefters ; highway surveyors, James M. 
Harriman, Nathan M. Chase, Cornelius Carr, Bartlett 
Marston, Daniel Whitcher, William Davis, Elijah Curtis, 
John C. Brown, Caleb Wells; surveyors of lumber, Ira 
Whitcher, William Eastman, Daniel Whitcher, Jonas G. 
Brown, Josiah F. Jeffers, George Wells, Bartlett Marston, 
John Buswell ; constables, Peter Howe, 2nd, Daniel 
Whitcher, Caleb Wells. 

Two ballots were taken for representative. On the first 
the whole number of votes cast was 90. Jonathan Hunkings 
had 1, Peter Howe, 2nd, 1, Kimball Tyler 2, Enos Wells 2, 
Samuel Howe 2, Daniel D. Page 37, Ira Whitcher 42. On 
the second ballot 87 votes were cast. There were scattering 
6, Daniel D. Page had 31, Ira Whitcher 50, and was de- 
clared elected. 

The vote for governor was: Samuel Dinsmore 74, Levi 
Chamberlin 17, N. S. Berry 5. 

Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $200, high- 
ways $400. 

Oct 8. At a special town meeting held for the purpose of 
choosing a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 
ch x-'e : moderator, Ira Whitcher, delegate, Ira Whitcher. 

[1851-] March 11. Annual town meeting held at 
house of William Gannett. Chose : moderator, Ira Whit- 
cher ; town clerk, Chase Whitcher ; selectmen, Nathan B. 
Davis, James J. Page, Josiah F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, 
James Harriman, Jonathan Stickney, Cornelius Carr, Bart- 
lett Marston, Myron Bailey, Amos Wilson, Elijah Curtis, 
William Keyser, Gardner G. Annis ; constables, Moses W. 
Howe, Thomas F. Cox, James Harriman ; surveyors of 
lumber, Jonas G. Brown, Ira Whitcher, Gilbert P. Wright, 
William Eastman, John Buswell, Abel S. E. B. Davis; 



172 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

superintending school committee, George W. Mann, James 
Page, Caleb Wells. 

The whole number of votes cast for representative was 
102. Jonas G. Brown had 1, John K. Davis 1, Caleb 
Wells 1, James J. Page 1, Daniel D. Page 44, Ira Whit- 
cher 54, and was declared elected. 

The vote for governor was : Samuel Dinsmore 74, Thomas 
E. Sawyer 18, John Atwood 8. 

Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $250, high- 
ways $400. 

[1852.] March 9. Annual meeting held in No. 5 
school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, George W. Mann ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Darius 
K. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis ; highway surveyors, James 
Harriman, William Gannett, Hiram King, Gilbert P. 
Wright, Moses W. Howe, John Flanders, Samuel Howe, 
William K. Bruce, Enos C. Wells ; superintending school 
committee, Caleb Wells, Amos G. Torsey, Thomas F. Cox ; 
constable, Samuel Pike ; treasurer, Ira Whitcher. 

Chase Whitcher was chosen representative on first ballot, 
which resulted as follows: Whole number of votes, 91; 
Caleb Wells had 1, Winthrop G. Torsey 1, Darius K. 
Davis 4, Enos Wells 6, Robert Coburn 11, Chase Whitcher 
68. For governor the vote was : Noah Martin 76, Thomas 
E. Sawyer 20, John Atwood 3. 

Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $250, high- 
ways $450. The money raised by taxation for the support 
of schools was apportioned to the school districts as follows : 
district No. 1, $26.07; No. 2, $39.80; No. 3, 25.03; No. 
4, $45.06; No. 5, $63.56; No. 6, $42.69; No. 7, $7.50. 

Nov. 2. At the election for choice of Presidential elec- 
tors the vote for Democratic electors was 76, Whig 9, Free 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 173 

Soil 3. 

[1853.] March 8. Annual meeting at district No. 1 
school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, George W. Mann ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Darius 
K. Davis, Jeremiah B. Davis ; highway surveyors, Josiah 
F. Jeffers, John Hyde, James J. Page, Thomas F. Cox, 
Amos Whitcher, John Flanders, Samuel Howe, William K. 
Bruce, Samuel C. Annis ; superintending school committee, 
Darius K. Davis ; collector, James Norris ; treasurer Ira 
Whitcher. 

Chase Whitcher was chosen representative as the result of 
the following ballot ; whole number of votes 75 ; Samuel 
Pike had 1, Robert Coburn 14, Chase Whitcher 60. 

The vote for governor was : Noah Martin 76, James Bell 
8, John H. White 3. 

Voted to raise for town charges $350, schools $300, high- 
ways $450. 

[1854.] March 4. Annual meeting at 5th district 
school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, Caleb Wells; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Silas M. 
Welch, Gilbert P. Wright ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. 
Jeffers, Jonathan Stickney, Joseph Blake, Gilbert P. Wright, 
Amos Wilson, Darius K. Davis, Samuel Howe, Walter 
Mulliken, Caleb Wells ; constable, George W. Mann ; supt. 
school committee, Amos G. Torsey ; collector of taxes, 
Daniel Whitcher ; treasurer, Ira Whitcher. A ballot for 
representative resulted in the choice of Enos Wells. Whole 
number of votes was 100. Necessary to a choice 51. Caleb 
Morse had 1, Chase Whitcher 1, Darius K. Davis 1, Stephen 
C. Sherman 3, William Eastman 7, Daniel D. Page 36, and 
Enos Wells 54. The vote for governor was : Nathaniel B. 
Baker 90, James Bell 10, Jared Perkins 3. Voted to 



174 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

raise for town charges $350, for schools $300, for highways 
$350. 

[1855.] March 13. Annual meeting at 1st district 
school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, Caleb Wells ; selectmen, Silas M. Welch, Gilbert P. 
Wright, George W. Mann ; highway surveyors, John 
Lathrop, W alter F. Pike, Calvin Corliss, Leonard Brown, 
Charles C. Tyler, Abel S. E. B. Davis, Daniel Howe, John 
E. Keyser, George Wells ; supt. school committee, Amos 
G. Torsey, James Page : constable, George W. Mann ; col- 
lector, Daniel Whitcher; treasurer, George W. Mann. The 
whole number of ballots cast for representative was 104. 
Necessary to a choice 53. Caleb Morse had 1, Enos Wells 
1, Robert Coburn 3, Chase Whitcher 3, William Eastman 
12, Jonathan Hunkings 26, and Daniel D. Page 58, and the 
latter was declared elected. For governor, Nathaniel B. 
Baker had 74, Ralph Metcalf 25, James Bell 2. Voted to 
raise for town charges $350, for schools $300, for highways 
$350. 

[1856.] March 11. Annual town meeting in district 
No 5 school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, Chase Whitcher; selectmen, James J. Page, George 
\Y. Mann, Bartlett Marston ; highway surveyors, Silas M. 
Welch, Jonathan Stickney, Joseph Blake, Gilbert P. Wright, 
Ira Whitcher, Jeremiah B. Davis, Samuel Howe, Walter 
Mulliken, Nathaniel Stow ; supt. school committee, James 
Page, Amos G. Torsey ; constables, Jonathan Stickney, 
Daniel Whitcher. The whole number of votes cast for repre- 
sentative was 84. Necessary to a choice 43. Enos C. 
Wells had 1, Enos Wells 5, Jonathan Hunkings 16, Daniel 
D. Page 62, and Daniel D. Page was elected. The vote for 
governor was : John S. Wells 73, Ralph Metcalf 20. 





Gilbert P. Wright. 



Bartlett Marston. 





Charles C. Tyler. 



Silas M. Welch. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 175 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, for schools $300, for 
highways $400. 

November 4. At the presidential election 85 votes were 
cast for the Democratic electoral ticket headed by Daniel 
Marcy, and 23 for the Republican ticket headed by W. H. 
H. Bailey. 

[1857.] March 10. Annual town meeting in school 
house district No. 1. Chose: moderator, James J. Page; 
town clerk, George Wells ; selectmen, James J. Page, Bart- 
lett Marston, William T. Torsey ; highway surveyors, Bart- 
lett Welch, Nathan Blodgett, Joseph Blake, William T. 
Torsey, George W. Mann, David Clough, James A. Clark, 
Nathaniel Mulliken ; supt. school committee, Caleb Wells, 
James Page ; constables, George W. Mann, James B. Clark, 
William Smith ; collector, James Norris. Amos G. Torsey, 
Jonathan Stickney, and William Davis were appointed liquor 
agents, on the condition that they should not run the town 
into debt, and that they should charge 20 percent, profit up- 
on each pint or quart sold and no more. The vote for repre- 
sentative was : whole number of votes 103 ; necessary to a 
choice 52; William Whitcher had 1; George Wells 1, 
James B. Clark 2, Chase Whitcher 2, Daniel Whitcher 35, 
George W. Mann 62, and George W. Mann was elected. 

The issue in this election and also in the next three was 
that of "Bunga Road". There was for the time being a 
new alignment of factions over this issue, and Wellses, Pages, 
and Whitchers were for the time forgotten. The candidates 
for representatives in these four years each belonged to the 
Whitcher faction, and were brothers-in-law. There was 
warm politics. With less than 500 population a vote of 108 
or 111 indicated that the voters were out. When the Bun- 
ga road controversy was settled, there was a profitable falling 



176 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

off in the vote. 

The vote for governor was : John S. Wells 80, William 
Haile 23. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- 
ways $400. 

[1858.] March 9. Annual meeting at the 5th district 
school house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town 
clerk, George Wells; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, William T. 
Torsey, Caleb Wells; highway surveyors, James Harriman, 
Walter F. Pike, Roswell Hardy, Gilbert P. Wright, Ira 
Whitcher, David Clough, Charles M. Howe, W. Carlos 
Stowe, Nathaniel Mulliken ; constables, James Norris, Silas 
M. Welch ; collector, James Norris. 

The whole number of votes cast for representative was 
109. Necessary to a choice 55. Charles M. Howe had 1, 
James J. Page 1, George W. Mann 52, Daniel Whitcher 
55, and Daniel Whitcher was declared elected. The vote 
for governor was : Asa P. Cate 92, William Haile 16. 
Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- 
ways $550. 

[1859.] March 8. Annual meeting in 1st district 
school house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, 
James Norris ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Caleb Wells, Josiah 
F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. Jeffers, Charles 
Carpenter, Roswell Cady, William T. Torsey, Ira Whitcher, 
Noah C. Hutchins, Bjnjamin H. Tyrrell, Samuel C. Annis ; 
constables, Ira Whitcher, Silas M. Welch; supt. school 
committee, Walter F. Pike; collector, Horace W. Gordon. 

The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 
108, necessary to a choice 55. Charles M. Howe had 1, 
George W. Mann 50, Daniel Whitcher 57, and Daniel 
Whitcher was elected. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. Ill 

In these close contests Charles M. Howe, a Republican, 
disgusted that his political brethren voted with one or the 
other Democratic faction according to personal friendship, or 
— substantial reward — voted regularly for himself as the 
only man in town whom he could trust. 

The vote for governor was Asa P. Cate 94, Ichabod 
Goodwin 17. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- 
ways, $500. 

[i860.] March 13. Meeting in 5th district school 
house. Chose: moderator, Daniel D. Page; town clerk, 
James Page; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Jonathan Hunt- 
ings, Josiah F. Jeffers ; highway surveyors, James M. Har- 
riman, Moses P. Buswell, James J. Page, Gilbert P. Wright, 
James H. Keyser, Chase Whitcher, Benjamin H. Tyrell, 
Caleb Wells ; tax collector, Caleb Wells ; superintending 
school committee, James Page, Caleb Wells; constables, 
Elisha Hibbard, Jonathan B. Stickney ; agent to manage 
town law suits, Ira Whitcher. 

The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 
103, necessary to a choice 52. John E. Keyser had 1, 
Caleb Wells 1, Jonathan Hunkings 16, Daniel D. Page 33, 
and George W. Mann 52, and George W. Mann was 
elected. For governor 83 votes were cast for Asa P. Cate 
and 20 for Ichabod Goodwin. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600. for schools $300, 
highways $700. 

November 6. At the presidential election the Douglas 
Democratic electoral ticket headed by Henry P. Rolfe re- 
ceived 55 votes, the Breckinridge Democratic headed by Ab- 
ner Greenleaf 7, and the Republican ticket headed by John 
Sullivan 18. 



178 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



[1861.] March 12. Meeting in district No. 1 school 
house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, 
James Page ; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Jonathan Hunk- 
ings, Bartlett Welch ; highway surveyors, Silas M. Welch, 
Jonathan Stickney, John Savage, Gilbert P. Wright, Chase 
Whitcher, David Clough, Daniel M. Howe, David Bowman, 
Caleb Wells ; superintending school committee, Caleb 
Wells, with remuneration at 1 1-2 per cent. ; agent to man- 
age law suits, Ira Whitcher. 

The whole number of votes cast for representative was 72. 
Necessary to a choice 37. William T. Torsey had 2, Jona- 
than Hunkings 19, James Page 51, and James Page was 
elected. The vote for governor was : George Stark 82, N. 
S. Berry 21. 

Voted to raise for town charges and support of poor $500, 
schools $300, highways $150 in money and $300 to be ex- 
pended in labor at 10 cents an hour. 

[1862.] March 11. Meeting held in district No. 5. 
Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, Amos Whit- 
cher ; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, Bartlett Welch, William 
T. Torsey ; highway surveyors, Bartlett Welch, Moses P. 
Bus well, George Corliss, S. Emery Marston, Chase Whit- 
cher, Israel Flanders, James H. Keyser, Charles Gifford, 
George Wells ; superintending school committee, George 
W. Mann ; collector, Caleb Wells with compensation at 2 
per cent. ; to manage law suits, Ira Whitcher. 

Three ballots were had for representative. First, whole 
number of votes cast 86, necessary to a choice 44. Ira 
Whitcher had 1, Daniel D. Page 4, William C. Bixby 18, 
Caleb Wells 22, James Page 39. Second, whole number of 
votes 88, necessary to a choice 45. George W. Mann had 
l,Ira Whitcher 2, Daniel D. Page 2, William C. Bixby 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 179 

22, Caleb Wells 21, James Page 40. Third, whole number 
of votes cast 87, necessary to a choice 44. George W. 
Mann had 2, William C. Bixby 19, Caleb Wells 22, and 
James Page 44, who was declared elected. The vote for 
governor was : George Stark 74, Nathaniel S. Berry 18. 

Voted to raise for town charges and town debt $600, 
schools $300, highways $400 in labor and $100 in money to 
be expended by the selectmen. 

Three special town meetings were held in the autumn of 
the year which will be noted in a later chapter. 

[1863.] March 10. Annual meeting in the school house 
in district No. 1. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town 
clerk, Amos Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, William 
T. Torsey, James Page; highway surveyors, James M. 
Harriman, Ashael L. Warren, John Savage, Gilbert P. 
Wright, Prescott Parker, Jr., Lafayette W. Flanders, 
James H. Keyser, Alden Hurlbert, George Wells ; collector, 
Caleb Wells ; to manage town law suits, Ira Whitcher. 

Five ballots were taken for representative. First, whole 
number of ballots 89, necessary to a choice 45. Daniel D. 
Page had 1, Charles M. Howe 1, Caleb Wells 12, William 
C. Bixby 12, Ira Whitcher 27, Chase Whitcher 36. Sec- 
ond, whole number of ballots 90, necessary to a choice 46. 
William C. Bixby had 7, Caleb Wells 11, Ira Whitcher 35, 
Chase Whitcher 37. Third, whole number of ballots 90, 
necessary to a choice 46. Caleb Wells had 2, W. C. Bixby 
7, Chase Whitcher 40, Ira Whitcher 41. Fourth, whole 
number of ballots 90, necessary to a choice 46. Caleb Wells 
had 1, Nathan Blodgett 2, W. C. Bixby 3, Chase Whitcher 
40, Ira Whitcher 44. Fifth, whole number of ballots 92, 
necessary to a choice 47. Chase Whitcher had 1, William 
T. Torsey 1, Amos Whitcher 1, Caleb Wells 1, W. C. Bix- 



180 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

by 7, Daniel D. Page 33, Ira Whitcher 48, and Ira Whit- 
cher was declared elected. The vote for governor was Ira 

A. Eastman 82, Joseph A. Gilmore 10. 

Voted to raise for debt and town charges $800, schools 
$300, highways $400 to be paid in labor and $100 in money 
to be expended by the selectmen. 

[1864.] March 10. Meeting held in school house No. 
5. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, Charles 
H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, James Page, Charles 

B. Keyser ; highway surveyors, Charles Jacobs, Nathan 
Blodgett, T. Prescott Blake, George Wells, Amos Wilson, 
Thomas F. Cox, William T. Torsey, Thomas H. Hunkings, 
Alden E. Hurlbert ; constables, George Wilson, Ashael 
L. Warren ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells ; 
tax collector, Caleb Wells ; agent to manage town law suits, 
Ira Whitcher. 

There were two ballots tor representative. First, whole 
number of votes 83, necessary to a choice 42. Charles B. 
Keyser had 1, Daniel D. Page 1, Caleb Wells 8, Ashael L. 
Warren 9, Chase Whitcher 25, Ira Whitcher 39. Second, 
whole number 81, necessary to a choice 41. Nathan Blod- 
gett had 1, Charles B. Keyser 1, Caleb Wells 8, Ashael L. 
Warren 9, Chase Whitcher 20, Ira Whitcher 42, and Ira 
Whitcher was declared elected. 

The vote for governor was : E. W. Harrington 76, Joseph 
A. Gilmore 12. 

Voted to raise for town charges $700, schools $300, high- 
ways $500, of which $100 was to be expended by the select- 
men. Action was also taken in regard to draft which will 
be noted in another chapter. 

November 8. The vote for presidental electors was : 
Democratic 84, Republican 12. 






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Caleb Wells. 



James Page. 




William T. Torsey. 




Charles B. Keyser. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 181 

[1865.] March 9. Meeting held in school house dis- 
trict No. 1. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann; town 
clerk, Charles H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Caleb Wells, 
Charles B. Keyser, Ira Whitcher ; highway surveyors, Jo- 
siah F. Jeffers, Moses P. Buswell, James Page, Thomas F. 
Cox, Prescott Parker, Jr., Moses Clough, George Mulliken, 
John Harris ; superintending school committee, Caleb Wells ; 
collector, William T. Torsey. 

There were two ballots for representative. First, whole 
number of votes 76, necessary to a choice 39. Scattering 
4, Nathan Blodgett 10, Caleb Wells 25, Chase Whitcher 
37. Second, whole number of votes 75, necessary for a 
choice 38. Nathan Blodgett had 9, Caleb Wells 24, Chase 
Whitcher 41, and Chase Whitcher was declared elected. 
There is no record of the governor vote. 

Voted to raise for town charges and town debt $1400, 
school $400, for highways $100 in money to be expended 
by the selectmen and $500 in labor at 15 cents an hour. 

Voted to discontinue that part of the Whitcher brook 
road laid out by the selectmen of Landaff and Benton, which 
lies in the town of Benton. This action was subsequently 
declared to be illegal and the road was continued open. 

[1866.] March 8. Meeting in school house, district 
No. 5. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, 
Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, George W. Mann, Daniel 
D. Page, George Wells ; highway surveyors, Josiah F. 
Jeffers, Ashael L. Warren, James Page, S. Emery Mars- 
ton, Francis Dwyer, L. W. Flanders, Samuel Howe, 
George W. Bemis, John E. Oakes ; superintending school 
committee, George W. Mann, Caleb Wells; collector, Bart- 
lett Mareton. 

For representative the whole number of votes was 77, 



182 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

necessary to a choice 39. William T. Torsey had 2, Wil- 
liam C. Bixby 8, Caleb Wells 15, Chase Whitcher 52, and 
Chase Whitcher was declared elected. The governor vote 
was : John G. Sinclair 77, Frederick Smyth 13. 

[1867.] March 12. Meeting in district No. 1 school 
house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town clerk, 
Charles H. Whitcher ; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Daniel D. 
Page, Chase Whitcher ; highway surveyors, William C. 
Bixby, Ezra C. Winchester, James Page, Gilbert P. 
Wright, Samuel A. Mann, Joseph Hutchins, Richard C. 
Drown, Daniel M. Howe, John E. Oakes ; collector, Bart- 
lett Marston. 

For representative ; whole number of votes cast 80, neces 
sary to a choice 41 ; Daniel D. Page had 10, Samuel Howe 
had 14, Caleb Wells 56, and Caleb Wells was declared 
elected. 

For governor John G. Sinclair had 78, Walter Harriman 
12. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$500, highways $700, labor to be at 12 1-2 cents per hour. 

[1868.] March 10. Annual meeting in vestry of Union 
meetinghouse. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher; town 
clerk, Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Ira Whitcher, Chase 
Whitcher, James Page ; highway surveyors, James M. Copp, 
John H. True, S. W. Elliott, Jeremiah A. Clark, Winthrop 
C. Whitcher, William T. Torsey, Charles B. Keyser, Charles 
Collins, Arthur Wilson ; supt. school committee, George W. 
Mann, James Page; collector, Winthrop C. Whitcher; 
representative on first ballot without contest, Caleb Wells. 

Voted to raise for town charges and poor $600, schools 
$500, highways $600 in labor at 15 cents per hour, and $100 
in money to be expended by the selectmen. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 183 

November 3. At the presidential election, the Democratic 
electoral ticket headed by John S. Buswell received 70 votes, 
the Republican headed by Amos Paul, 9. 

[1869.] March 9. Meeting in vestry of Union meeting 
house. Chose: moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, 
James H. Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, John H. True, 
Ira Whitcher; highway surveyors, John L. Stevens, John 
Crimming8, Joshua Page, Stephen T. Marston, Amos 
Whitcher, Merrill Clough, Charles B. Keyser, Alden E. Hurl- 
bert, Jeremiah A. Clark ; superintending school committee, 
George W. Mann, James Page ; collector, Joshua Page. 
For representative, the whole number of votes was 72, 
necessary to a choice 37 ; George W. Mann had 1, Charles 
B. Keyser 1, John H. True 2, Daniel D. Page 13, William 
T. Torsey 23, Chase Whitcher 42, and Chase Whitcher was 
elected. 

For governor, John Bedel, dem., 72; Onslow Stearns, 
rep., 20. 

Voted to raise for town expenses and debt $1500, schools 
$500, highways $700 in labor at 15 cents per hour. 

[1870.] March 8. Meeting in vestry of Union meeting 
house. Chose : moderator, Ira Whitcher ; town clerk, James 
H. Keyser; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, John H. True, Ira 
Whitcher (John H. True subsequently resigned and James 
Page was appointed to fill vacancy) ; highway surveyors, John 
L. Stevens, E. M. True, Alvin Blake, Hazen Chamberlin, 
Samuel C. Annis, William T. Torsey, James G. Ramsdell, 
Alden E. Hurlbert, Jeremiah A. Clark. 

For representative, the whole number of votes cast was 
82, necessary to a choice 42 ; James Page had 1, James H. 
Keyser 1, William T. Torsey 3, Daniel D. Page 6. James 
E. Whitcher 6, Jeremiah B. Davis 7, Chase Whitcher 53, 



184 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

and Chase Whitcher was declared elected. 

For governor, John Bedel, dem., 67; Onslow Stearns, 
rep., 19 ; Samuel Flint, labor reform, 4. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$500, highways $800 in labor and $100 in money. 

[1871.] March 14. Annual town meeting in vestry of 
Union meeting house. Chose : moderator, Chase Whitcher ; 
town clerk, Chsrles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Chase Whit- 
cher, Asahel L. Warren, William T. Torsey ; highway sur- 
veyors, Benjamin H. Tyrell, Asahel L. Wnrren, James 
Page, Bartlett Marston, Samuel C. Annis, William T. Tor- 
sey, Willard W. Coburn, Alden E. Hurlbert, S. H. Cham- 
berlin ; superintending school committee, M. W. True; col- 
lector, Charles C. Tyler ; treasurer, Chase Whitcher. 

For representative, the whole number of votes cast was 

81, necessary to a choice 41. William T. Torsey had 1, 

Ellery P. Cowan 11, James H. Keyser 20, Edward F. 

Mann 49, and Edward F. Mann was declared elected. 

* For governor, James A. Weston 63, James Pike 21. 

Voted to raise for town charges $1000, highways $800, 
schools $500. 

James Page was chosen agent to defend law suits against 
the town. 

[1872.] March 12. Meeting in vestry of Union meet- 
ing house. Chose : moderator, Chase Whitcher ; town 
clerk, Charles H. Whitcher; selectmen, Chase Whitcher, 
Asahel L. Warren, William T. Torsey; highway surveyors, 
David L. Wright, A. L. Warren, Pardon W. Allen, S. E. 
Marston, Samuel C. Annis, W. T. Torsey, Willard W. 
Coburn, Samuel Howe, Jeremiah A. Clark ; superintending 
school committee, Charles H. Whitcher, Moses W. True ; 
collector, James Norris. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 185 

[May 27. George W Mann appointed town clerk on re- 
moval from town of Charles H; Whitcher ; Edward F. Mann 
appointed superintending school committee.] 

The whole number of votes for representative was 88, 
necessary to a choice 45. Charles H. Whitcher had 1, Rich- 
ard C. Drown 1, James E. Whitcher 4, Edward F. Mann 
82, and Edward F. Mann was declared elected. Such 

unanimity never occurred in Benton before, and it has 

never occurred since. 

The vote for governor was James A. Weston 84, Ezekiel 
A. Straw 20. 

Voted to raise for town charges $800, schools $500, high- 
ways $900. 

November. At the presidential election, the vote for the 
Democratic electors, headed by William P. Wheeler, was 
66 ; for the Republican, headed by Lyman D. Stevens, 15. 

[1873.] March 11. Annual meeting in vestry of the 
Union meeting house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page, 
town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, Pres- 
cott Parker, Willard W. Coburn ; highway surveyors, David 
L. Wright, John Crimmings, James Page, Gilbert P. 
Wright, SpafFord W. Cowan, John Flanders, James H. 
Keyser, Samuel Howe, Nathaniel Clark ; superintending 
school committee, James Page ; collector, Prescott Parker ; 
treasurer, James Page. 

For representative, the whole number of votes was 72, 
necessary to a choice 37. David L. Wright had 1, Edward 
F. Mann 30, Daniel D. Page 38, and Daniel D. Page was 
elected. For governor, James A. Weston had 60 ; Ezekiel 
A. Straw 14. 

Voted to raise for town charges $900, schools $500, high- 
ways $1000 to be expended in labor at 15 cents per hour. 



180 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

[1874.] March 10. Meeting in vestry of meeting house. 
Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, James H. 
Keyser ; selectmen, James Page, Prescott Parker, Gilbert 
P. Wright ; highway surveyors, Ezra C. Winchester, Wil- 
liam Tibbetts, James Page, Alonzo Spooner, Spafford W. 
Cowan, Gilbert P. Wright, Jr., Alden E. Hurlbutt, James 
H. Keyser, Frank Clark ; school committee, James Page ; 
collector, James Norris ; treasurer, James Page. Daniel D. 
Page was elected representative. The vote for governor 
was : James A. Weston 65 ; Luther McCutcheon 14. 

Voted to raise for town charges etc., $1000, schools $600, 
highways $1000, 15 cents per hour to be allowed for labor. 

[1875.] March 9. Meeting held in vestry of the meet- 
ing house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town 
clerk, Amos Whitcher ; selectmen, Charles E. True, James 
H. Keyser, James Page ; school committee, James Page ; 
collector, James Norris ; treasurer, James Page. Voted 
that highway surveyors be appointed by the selectmen. 

The whole number of votes cast for representative was 90, 
necessary to a choice 46. Asahel L. Warren had 2, Wil- 
liam T. Torsey 38, George W. Mann 50, and George W. 
Mann was declared elected. The vote for governor was : 
Hiram R. Roberts 80, Person C. Cheney 20. Voted to 
raise for town charges, etc., $1000, schools $500, highways 
$1000 labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. 

[1876.] March 14. Meeting held in vestry of the meet- 
ing house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town clerk, 
Amos Whitcher; selectmen, Charles E. True, James H. 
Keyser, James Page ; highway surveyors, Benjamin H. 
Tyrell, Asahel L. Warren, James Page, Alonzo Spooner, 
Pardon W. Allen, William T. Torsey, Peter Howe, Charles 
B. Keyser, Lyman Bemis, Jr. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 18 7 

The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 
69, necessary to a choice 35. There were scattering 4. 
Prescott Parker had 2, James Page had 13, George W. 
Mann 50, and George W. Mann was declared elected. 

The vote for governor was : George D. Marcy 67 ; Per- 
son C. Cheney 14. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$500, highways $800, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. 

November 7. At the presidential election, the Tilden 
electors received 60 votes, the Hayes electors 16. 

For delegate to the constitutional convention 61 votes were 
cast. James H. Keyser received 1, Prescott Parker 1, 
James Page 2, Daniel D. Page 4, Samuel Howe 17, and 
George W. Mann 36, and George W. Mann was elected. 

[1877.] March 13. Meeting held in vestry of the 
meeting house. Chose : moderator, Daniel D. Page ; town 
clerk, Pardon W. Allen ; selectmen, Charles B. Keyser, 
Moses W. True, William W. Eastman ; highway surveyors, 
B. H. Tyrell, Joshua Page, Alonzo Spooner, Edward L. 
Cox, Ephraim Cooley, Kendrick Howe, James H. Keyser, 
Lyman Bemis, Jr. ; collector, James Norris. 

For representative whole number of votes cast 69, neces- 
sary to a choice 36. George W. Mann had 1, Pardon W. 
Allen 1, William T. Torsey 20, Prescott Parker 47, and 
Prescott Parker was declared elected. The vote for gover- 
nor was : George D. Marcy 70, Benjamin F. Prescott 18. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $400, high- 
ways $600, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. 

[1878.] March 12. Meeting held in vestry of meeting 
house. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, 
Pardon W. Allen ; selectmen, George. W. Mann, William 
W. Eastman, Moses W. True ; superintending school com- 



1 88 SOME THINGS AB UT 

mittee, Frederick S. Howe ; highway surveyors, B. H. 
Tyrell, A. L. Warren, William B. Page, Eben T. Hardy, 
W. W. Eastman, Darius D. Davis, Kendrick S. Howe, 
Charles B. Keyser, Nathaniel Clark ; auditors, A. L. War- 
ren, W. T. Torsey ; collector, Orman L. Mann. 

The whole number of votes for representative was 74, 
necessary to a choice 38. George W. Mann had 1, Wil- 
liam T. Torsey 28, Prescott Parker 45, and Prescott Parker 
was declared elected. 

For governor Frank A. McKean had 69, Benjamin F. 
Prescott 15. 

Voted to raise for town charges, $700, schools $400, high- 
ways $600, labor to be paid 15 cents per hour. 

Nov. 5. The first biennial election for choice of state 
officers was held. Edward F. Mann was chosen moderator. 
The vote for governor was: Frank A. McKean 53, W. G. 
Brown 14, Natt Head 6. Chose : William T. Torsey, 
Benjamin H. Tyrell, James H. Keyser supervisors of 
check list. 

[1879.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, Edward F. Mann ; town clerk, Pardon W. 
Allen ; selectmen, Moses W. True, Charles B. Keyser, 
Prescott Parker; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, A. L. 
Warren, 8. Elliott, Curtis Chamberlin, W . W. Eastman, 
William T. Torsey, Kendrick L. Howe, Charles B. Keyser, 
Nathaniel Clark ; treasurer, Amos Whitcher (on his removal 
from town James H. Keyser was appointed) ; superintending 
school committee, Moses W. True (on his removal from 
town Pardon W. Allen was appointed) ; collector, Orman 
L. Mann. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $400, high- 
ways $700. Tax was levied to pay the school house in- 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 189 

debtedness in districts No. 4 and 5. 

[1880.] March 9. Annual town meeting. Chose : 
moderator, Edward F. Mann ; town clerk, James H. Key- 
ser ; selectmen, George W. Mann, Eben T. Hardy, Ed- 
ward M. True ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, William 
Tibbetts, W. H. Morrill, Cutler Chamberlin, Nathan D. 
Hutchins, Merrill Clough, Fred S. Howe, Nathaniel Clark, 
W. W. Eastman ; treasurer, C. A. Veazey ; collector O. L. 
Mann ; appraisers, Ashael L. Warren, O. L. Mann, Dan- 
iel M. Howe. 

Voted to raise tor town charges $500 ; town debt $500, 
schools $400, highways $450, with labor at 15 cents per hour. 

Nov. 2. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Edward 
F. Mann ; supervisors of check list, Pardon W. Allen, 
Benjamin H. Tyrell, Daniel M. Howe. 

The whole number of ballots for representative was 63, 
necessary to a choice 32. Thomas E. Taylor had 3, Wil- 
liam T. Torsey 7, James H. Keyser 15, George W. Mann 
38, and George W. Mann was elected. 

The vote for governor was : Frank Jones 66, Charles H. 
Bell 12, Warren G. Brown 6. For presidential electors the 
Democratic candidates received 66, the Republican 12, 
Greenback 6. 

[l88l.] March 8. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, P. W. Allen ; town clerk, Edward L. Cox ; se- 
lectmen, George W. Mann, Eben T. Hardy, Edward M. 
True ; highway surveyors, William Tibbetts, W. H. Mor- 
rill, Lyman Bemis, Solomon J. Hutchins, W. W. East- 
man, Daniel M. Howe, Birt Cox, Merrill Clough. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$350, highways $500 to be expended as selectmen see fit. 

[1882.] March 14. Annual town meeting. Chose : 



190 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

moderator, James H. Keyser; town clerk, Edward L. Cox ; 
selectmen, William W. Eastman, James H. Keyser, Lebina 
H. Parker ; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, Norman 
Martin, Albert Morrill, Eben T. Hardy, E. L. Cox, Alonzo 
Spooner, Charles P. Collins, Sylvester Wheeler, Merrill 
Clough ; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$300, highways $400. 

March 7. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Pardon 
W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, P. W. Allen, Ransom 
Coburn, Charles A. Veazey. 

The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 
70. Ashael L. Warren had 5, James H. Keyser 26, 
George W. Mann 39, and George W. Mann was elected. 
For governor Martin V. B. Edgerlv had 58, Samuel W. 
Hale 18. 

[1883.] March 13. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; 
selectmen, W. W. Eastman, J. H. Keyser, Lebina H. 
Parker; auditors, Charles A. Veazey, O. L. Mann, D. M. 
Howe ; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe. 

Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools 
$400, highways $600 to be paid in labor at 15 cents per hour. 

[1884.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, Daniel M. Howe ; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; 
selectmen, William W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, Lebina 
H. Parker ; highway surveyors, Edgar S. Welch, Frank 
Hardy, Alfred Morrill, Albert Lindsay, L. H. Parker, 
Horace R. Spooner, Halsey R. Howe, Ransom Coburn, 
Nathaniel Clark ; superintending school committee, Pardon 
W. Allen ; collector, Edgar S. Welch. 

Voted to raise for town expenses and indebtedness $1200, 





George H. Clark. 



Orman L. Mann. 





Rev. George E. Brown. 



Charles A. Veazey. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 191 

schools $400, highways $400, with labor at 15 cents per 
hour. 

November 4. Presidential and biennial election. Chose : 
moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, 
Orman L. Mann, Geo. H. Clark, C. A. Veazey. (There 
is no record of the vote for governor and presidential electors. ) 

[1885.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : 
moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, Pardon W. Al- 
len ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, L. H. 
Parker ; school committee, P. W. Allen ; highway survey- 
ors, E. S. Welch, John Russell, Jr., Eben Morrill, Leman 
S. Keyser, S. H. Chamberlin, W. T. Torsey, Halsey R. 
Howe, Fred M. Tyler, Nathaniel Clark. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $500, schools $400, high- 
ways $600 in labor at 15 cents per hour. 

[1886.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, P. W. Allen ; town clerk, David F. Richard- 
son ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richardson, 
James H. Keyser ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- 
man, Paul M. Howe. Voted that the highway commission- 
ers be appointed by the selectmen. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- 
ways $600, labor to be paid at 15 cents per hour. 

November 2. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, S. 
H. Chamberlin ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, 
George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe. 

The representative contest this year was an animated one. 
The Republicans were united and stood by their candidate, 
leaving the Democratic factions to fight it out among them- 
selves. Seven ballots were necessary to elect. S. H. 
Chamberlin was the republican candidate, and the Demo- 
cratic aspirants were several. The ballots were as follows : 



192 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

First, whole number of votes 53 ; James H. Keyser had 1, 
William T. Torsey 1, William W. Eastman 5, Lebina H. 
Parker 10, George W. Mann 17, S. H. Chamberlin 19. 
Second, W. W. Eastman 1, Prescott Parker 1, W. T. Torsey 

1, L. II. Parker 9, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. 
Third, J. H. Keyser 1, W. T. Torsey 1, Oman L. Mann 2, 
L. H. Parker 11, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. 
Fourth, W. T. Torsey 1, Charles A. Veazey 1, William 
B. Page 3, L. H. Parker 10, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. 
W. Mann 21. Fifth, David F. Richardson 1, W. B. Page 

2, L. H. Parker 12, G. W. Mann 19, S. H. Chamberlin 
22. Sixth, G. W. Mann 1, D. F. Richardson 5, S. H. 
Chamberlin 25, L. H. Parker 30. Seventh, whole number 
of votes 58, necessary to a choice 30, D. F. Richardson I, 
S. H. Chamberlin 22, Lebina H. Parker 35, and Lebina H. 
Parker was declared elected. 

The vote for governor was : Thomas Cogswell, dem., 37 ; 
Charles H. Sawyer, rep., 18; Joseph Wentworth, green- 
back, 6. 

[1887.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, Moses B. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- 
ardson ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richard- 
son, Moses B. Mann ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- 
man, P. M. Howe ; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richard- 
son, Daniel M. Howe. Voted that road commissioners be 
appointed by the selectmen. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- 
ways $(>00. 

Voted that the North and South road be discontinued. 

[1888.] March 8. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- 
ardson ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 193 

S. Welch; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richardson, D. 
M. Howe ; constables, W. W. Eastman, D. F. Richardson. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, 
highways $600, for town debt $1200. 

Nov. 6. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : mod- 
erator, Moses B. Mann ; supervisor of check lists, Orman 
L. Mann, Horace R. Spooner, Norman J. Page. 

The vote for governor was democratic, 46 ; republican 
17, prohibition 3, and the same party vote was given for 
presidential electors. 

Two ballots were had for delegate to constitutional con- 
vention : 1st, whole number of votes 48, necessary to ac- 
tion 25, Moses B. Mann had 1, Norman J. Page 3, Paul 
M. Howe 12, George W. Mann 12, William W. Eastman, 
20 ; 2d, whole number of votes 54, necessary to a choice 
28 ; M. B. Mann had 1, N. J. Page 5, G. W. Mann 7, P. 
M. Howe 13 and Wm. W. Eastman 28, and Win. W. 
Eastman was declared elected. 

[1889.] March 14. Annual town meeting held in the 
hall in "the Hollow," which later was purchased by the 
town and became the town hall. Chose: moderator, Moses 
B. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richardson ; selectmen, L. 
H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar S. Welch; auditor?, 
Alfred Morrill, George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe; road 
commissioners, William Tibbitts, Franklin Hill, George H. 
Clark, Clarence Spooner, Charles B. Keyser. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, 
highways $600, with labor at 15 cents per hour. 

[1890.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. 
Chose : moderator, George W. Mann, (declined to serve) 
then chose Norman J. Page ; town clerk, D. F. Richard- 
eon ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, Norman J. Page, W. Sims 



194 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Nutter; road commissioners, James M. Harriman, John 
Crimmings, Norman J. Page, Horace R. Spooner, Alonzo 
Spooner, Fred M. Tyler. 

Voted to raise for town charges, $300, (the town was at 
last out of debt,) schools $400, highways $600. 

November 4. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, 
Norman J. Page ; for governor, Charles H. Amsden, dem. 
had 38, Hiram A. Tuttle, rep. 17, A. S. Fletcher, pro. 3. 
This was a warm election for Benton. For supervisors of 
check list, Daniel M. Howe and W. F. Bean were elected on 
the first ballot. Horace R. Spooner was elected on the 
fourth, but declined to serve, and Frank A. Moulton was 
elected on the sixth ballot. It took nine ballots to elect a 
representative. Paul M. Howe was the Republican candidate, 
while the Democrats had two, Lebina H. Parker and David 
F. Richardson. The Republicans however did not give their 
candidate full support. The highest vote he received was 12, 
and on one ballot he fell as low as 5. The first ballot stood 
whole number of votes 46. M. B. Mann had 1, P. M. 
Howe 10, L. H. Parker 15, David F. Richardson 20. The 
fifth ballot gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Parker 20, D. F. 
Richardeon 25. The eighth gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Par- 
ker 19, D. F. Richardson 26. On the ninth P. M. Howe 
had 7, L. H. Parker 7, and D. F. Richardson 32, and D. 
F. Richardson was declared elected. 

[1891.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richard- 
son ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, W. S. Nutter, James M. 
Harriman : auditors, Paul M. Howe, William B. Page. 
Voted that road commissioners be appointed by the select- 
men. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400, 





Moses B. Mann. 



Paul M. Howe. 





A. Elmore Tyler. 



Norman J. Page. 



OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 195 

highways $600. 

[1892.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose : 
moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, William W. 
Eastman ; selectmen, W. S. Nutter, W. W. Eastman, W. 
B. Page. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400, high- 
ways $600. 

November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose: 
moderator for two years, William B. Page ; supervisors of 
check list, Orman L. Mann, L. H. Parker, Chas. A. Vea- 
zey. 

For governor, McKinney, dem. had 32 votes, Smith, rep. 
14, Carr, pro. 2. The Democratic candidates for electors 
received 32 votes, Republican 18, Prohibition 1. 

[1893.] March 9. Annual meeting. Chose : town 
clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, James M. 
Harriman, Paul M. Howe ; road agent, James H. Keyser. 
W. W. Eastman was first chosen, but declined to serve. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- 
ways $600, town library $15. 

[1894.] March 8. Annual meeting. Chose: town 
clerk, William W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, J. 
M. Harriman, Paul M. Howe ; road agent, W. W. East- 
man. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200, high- 
ways $600, for purchase ot road machine $100, for town li- 
brary $15. 

November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for 
two years, George W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, O. 
L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Chas. A. Veazey. 

The vote for governor was : Henry O. Kent, dem., 29 ; 
Chas. A. Bussel, rep., 15 ; D. C. Knowles, pro., 2. 



196 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

[1895.] March 14. Annual town meeting at town hall. 
Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- 
ker, J. M. Harriman, P. M. Howe; road agent, W. Sims 
Nutter. 

Voted to raise for town charges $500, schools $300, high- 
ways $400, town library $15. 

[1896.] March 12. Annual town meeting in town hall. 
Chose : town clerk W. W. Eastman; selectmen, William 
Kendall (declined), L. H. Parker, Geo. H. Clark, W. J. 
Hardy ; road agent, W. Sims Nutter; library trustee, P. M. 
Howe. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- 
ways $600. 

November 3. Biennial and presidential election. Chose: 
moderator for two years, Norman J. Page ; supervisors of 
check list, Orman L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Harry H. El- 
liott. 

For representative, whole number of votes cast 53. Ne- 
cessary to a choice 27 : Orman L. Mann, dem., 24 ; William 
Kendall, rep., 29, and William Kendall was declared elected. 

The vote for governor was: Kent, dem., 25: Ramsdell, 
rep., 23; Barnard, national, 1. For presidential electors; 
Democrat, 21 ; Republican, 29 ; National, 2. 

[1897.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
moderator, William D. Veazey, in absence of Norman J. 
Page ; town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- 
ker, Geo. H. Clark, Fred M. Tyler. Eight ballots were 
had tor road agent, W. Sims Nutter being elected. There- 
upon W. W. Eastman resigned as town clerk. The select- 
men appointed James H. Keyser in his place, and then the 
meeting proceeded to further business. It was a particularly 
"hot time''. Chose : library trustees, Geo. H. Clark, Byron 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 197 

M. Tyler. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $300, schools $400, 
highways $600. 

[1898.] March 10. Annual town meeting at town hall. 
Chose : moderator, George W. Mann in absence of N. J. 
Page ; town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Par- 
ker, Geo. H. Clark, Albert W. Morrill ; road agent, Orman 
L. Mann, on the 7th ballot. The office of road agent had 
become quite an important one, in fact, so far as emoluments 
were concerned, the most important in town. 

Voted to raise for town expenses $350, schools $400, 
highways $600. 

November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, George 
W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, 
Solomon J. Hutchins, William I. Eastman. 

The vote for governor was : Stone, dem., 27 ; Rollins, rep., 
13 ; Stevens, pro., 2. 

[1899.] March 9. Annual town meeting in town hall. 
Chose : town clerk, J. H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, 
Geo. H. Clark, (declined,) Albert W. Morrill, W. W. 
Eastman ; road agent, Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts. 

Voted to raise for town charges $350, schools $300, high- 
ways $600. 

[1900.] March 8. Annual town meeting in town hall. 
Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. 
Parker, John S Rogers, William W. Eastman ; road agents, 
Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts. 

Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $400, high- 
ways $800. 

November Biennial and presidential election. Chose : 
moderator, in absence of George W. Mann, L. H. Parker ; 
supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J, Hut- 



198 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

chine, Ervin A. Marden ; Moderator, for two years, Lebina 
H. Parker. 

The vote for governor was: Potter, dem., 21; Jordan, 
rep., 29 ; for presidential electors Dem., 28, Rep., 22, Pro- 
hibition 1. 

[1901.] March 14. Annual town meeting in town hall. 
Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. 
Parker, William Kendall, John S. Rogers ; road agents, 
Orman L. Mann, James Crimmings. 

Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- 
ways, $600, town library $15. 

[1902.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. 
Chose: town clerk, W. W. Eastman; selectmen, L. H. 
Parker, William Kendall, Geo. H. Clark ; road agent, O. 
L. Mann, DeElden Tibbets. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200 above 
the amount required by law, highways $600, Memorial day 
$10. Orman L. Mann declined to serve as road agent 
and W. W. Eastman was chosen in his place. W. W. 
Eastman was also chosen tax collector. 

November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for two 
years, L. H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. 
Mann, dem., W. F. Fackney, rep., Byron M. Tyler, rep. ; 
delegate to constitutional convention, L. H. Parker. 

The vote for governor was : Hollis, dem., 18 ; Bachelder, 
rep., 18 ; Elliott, ind. rep., 2 ; Berry, pro., 1. 

[1903.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose: 
town clerk, W. W. Eastman; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, 
(declined to serve,) L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, Stephen 
H. Dexter; road agent, B. M. Tyler. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- 
ways $800, Memorial day $10. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 199 

[1904.] March 11. Annual town meeting in town 
hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, 
L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, S. H. Dexter ; road agent, B. 
M. Tyler. 

Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- 
ways $800, Memorial day $20. 

November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : 
moderator for two years, Lebina H. Parker ; supervisors of 
check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hutchins, Ervin 

A. Mardin. 

The vote for governor was; Hollis, dem., 19; McLane, 
rep., 19. Presidental electors, Democratic 22, Republican 
21. The whole number of ballots for representative was 40, 
necessary to a choice 21. William Kendall, rep. had 10, 
Lebina H. Parker 30, and Lebina H. Parker was declared 
elected. 

Coventry-Benton like other New Hampshire towns had 
its quota of Justices of the Peace, the first appointed 
being Obadiah Eastman in 1806. His successors with the 
date of their respective appointments were : 1812, William 
Coolidge; 1814, Daniel Davis; 1822, William Whitcher; 
1822, Jesse Eastman ; 1831, Nathan Coburn ; 1835, Daniel 
Batchelder ; 1837 Deliverance Woodward; 1838, Enos 
Wells ; 1840, John L. Corliss ; 1842, James J. Page ; 1843, 
Moses Whitcher ; 1845 John Lathrop ; 1847, Ira Whitcher ; 
1850, James Harriman, Jonathan Hunkings ; 1851, Nathan 

B. Davis ; 1855, George W. Mann ; 1857, Daniel D. Page ; 
1861, Chase Whitcher; 1863, Caleb Wells; 1866, James 
Page ; 1867, Amos Whitcher ; 1872, Edward F. Mann, Ben- 
jamin H. Tyrrell; 1874, James H. Keyser ; 1878, Pardon 
W. Allen ; 1880, William B. Page ; 1885, Orman L. Mann ; 
1889, William W. Eastman ; 1892, Paul M. Howe ; 1898, 



200 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Charles A. Veazey, Lebina H. Parker. Some of these held 
commissions but for a short time, owing to deaths or removal 
from town. Those who held commissions for the longest 
period were William Whitcher from 1822 until his death in 
1859, a period of 37 years ; James J. Page from 1842 till 
his death in 1880 ; Ira Whitcher from 1847 till his death in 
1897, a period of 50 years ; and George W. Mann from 
1855 till his death in 1901, a period of 46 years. 

It might be thought that, during these years when all the 
voters were of the same political party, the annual elections 
would be tame affairs, but political fights, especially when 
they are of a personal or family character, are always the 
bitterest. In the decade from 1850 to 1860 the "Bunga 
Road" controversy dominated the politics of the town, and 
indeed the question of whether this proposed highway along 
the banks of the Wild Ammonoosuc river, in the towns of 
Bath and Landaff, should or should not be built had much 
to do with political conditions in the county. The proposed 
road touched no part of Benton, but the Bunga Road ques- 
tion, for a period of ten years at least, overshadowed the 
Compromise act of 1850, its later repeal, the Kansas- 
Nebraska troubles, the anti-slavery struggle, and dominated 
not only the political life of Benton but entered into the 
social, educational and religious life as well. The four years 
in which George W. Mann and Daniel Whitcher were the 
opposing candidates for representative to the General Court 
were years when "Bunga Road" was the one absorbing theme. 
Phenomenally large votes were polled in those years. Voters 
were imported from other towns by both factions and kept 
in town long enough to gain a color of voting residence. 
The making of the check list was the work of artists. When 
Squire Page quoted to Squire Whitcher, who was chairman 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 201 

of the Board of Selectmen, some pertinent decisions of Judge 
Story relating to what constituted a voting residence, Squire 
Whitcher replied that while Judge Story might be an excel- 
lent lawyer, "Judge Story is not revising this particular 
check list here today." It would, perhaps, be incorrect to 
say that money was used at elections in the purchase of 
votes, but in those strenuous days candidates and their par- 
ticular friends were inclined to be friendly to those standing 
in need of friendship. A man who was unable to purchase 
a yoke of oxen, or to obtain funds to build a spruce oil dis- 
tillery, or to procure a team for hauling lumber, or to under- 
take a logging job, or who could not make living wages for 
the support of himself and family during the winter months, 
was naturally inclined to remember favorably at the polls 
the leader of whichever faction aided him. Many of the 
smaller homesteads in town were mortgaged either to Ira 
Whitcher or to Chase Whitcher. It was not strange that 
mortgagor should be a partisan of mortgagee. There were 
acts of charity to the poor. The gift of a barrel of flour, 
or a pair of boots, or an overcoat immediately preceedino- 
election, or the promise of it immediately after, was not 
perhaps without its influence ; but there was a sentiment 
against the use of money to purchase votes. As a matter of 
fact there was not a surplusage of money in Benton. As an 
illustration of this sentiment this incident may be mentioned : 
Sarah Glazier promised Henry Sisco that she would marry 
him if he would vote for George W. Mann for representa- 
tive. Henry voted for George, but when he came to claim 
Sarah's hand her moral nature revolted, and Henry was 
informed that she could never think of marrying a man base 
enough to sell his vote. This may be taken as pretty con- 
clusive proof that while in the Bunga Road days, and later, 



202 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

factional feeling ran high, there was no need of stringent 
bribery laws in Benton. The moral sentiment which found 
illustration in the Glazier- Sisco incident rebelled at bribery. 
The incident is beautiful except for the one little blemish — 
Sisco, who had been pledged to vote for Daniel Whitcher, 
did vote for George W. Mann. Benton voters, like other 
voters in other towns throughout the state, are irrevocably 
committed to purity of elections. It is such little blemishes 
as have been hinted at which have been magnified into 
stories of bribery. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 203 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE SCHOOLS. 



There were never any high schools or academies in Cov- 
entry-Benton, only the district schools such as were common 
to the small rural towns of the state. The school houses 
were of the old fashioned type of buildings down to the 
sixties, when in the three districts, numbers four, five and 
six, in the north part of the town, new buildings were erected 
on more modern plans, but the most expensive of these, that 
in number five, cost less than $1200. The old type of 
building is well remembered. It was, of course, small, 
unpainted, and placed as near the geographical center of the 
district as possible. The entrance was at one end, the 
teachers desk at the other. On each side of the house there 
were rows of plank benches, with desks constructed by the 
town carpenter, in front, the boys occupying one side of the 
house and the girls the other. In the early days heat 
was obtained from a large fireplace, and later, after stoves 
had been invented, from a big stove placed in the middle of 
the floor, the heat of which nearly roasted the youngsters on 
the front seats, while on the cold winter days the big boys 
and girls on the back seats next the wall shivered and 
froze. As for school furniture there was none, except a 
blackboard at one end of the house, and in one or two of the 
districts some small outline maps. The curriculum, or 
course of study, was of the go as you please order. It was 
arranged to meet the requirements of babies on the front seats 
who were trying to master the alphabet, and from these all 



204 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

the way up to those who were "doing the sums" on the 
last pages of the arithmetic, who formed the class in gram- 
mar and who "analyzed and parsed" Milton's Paradise 
Lost, and Young's Night Thoughts. There was in the early 
days but one term of school a year, eight or ten weeks in 
winter, but later a summer term of eight or ten weeks was 
added. This latter was not so largely attended. The 
youngsters made up the school. The older ones had to 
work, and there was no time for school in the hoeing and 
haying season. From four to twenty-one was the school age 
in the winter, or beyond twenty-one if marriage had not put 
an end to school life. District number five was the most 
populous, and for many years there were from fifty to sixty 
scholars crowded into the little school house (now trans- 
formed into a dwelling house) in the winter term. It was 
the typical country school. There were from four to five 
classes in reading, from three to five in spelling, the same 
number in arithmetic and in geography, two in grammar, 
and one or two in history. Then there were the writing 
lessons, the enforced writing of compositions by the older 
pupils to be read before the entire school, the "speaking 
pieces," to say nothing of instruction in book-keeping, with 
now and then elementary algebra for an advanced few. It 
was primary, grammar and high school combined for sixty 
pupils all in one poorly lighted room, with such ventilation 
as came through the doors and windows. Judged by the 
standard of the modern system of graded schools, the schools 
of Benton and similar towns were only apologies, and poor 
ones at that, but judged by the product they turned out, they 
would compare favorably with the graded schools of the 
villages of today. The average boy and girl in Benton 
learned to read intelligentlv, and to write a fair hand, got a 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 205 

fair knowledge of geography, learned the parte of speech, 
and if Colburn's Mental Arithmetic was used, was an expert 
mathematician. Pretty much the same ground was gone 
over winter after winter, under different teachers too, the 
ground covered was small, but in the course of ten or a 
dozen winters it was covered pretty thoroughly, and it is a 
better education to really know a few things well than to 
half know a great many, in fact, better to really know be- 
yond all question that three and two make five than to be 
dimly guessing that x plus y equals a divided by b. 

Not much money was spent on Benton schools. It should 
be said, however, in justice to the voters, that they usually 
spent all they could afford. The real fact is that they 
never had much money to spend. In proportion to its means 
Coventry-Benton made liberal appropriations for schools. 
The boys and girls who attended them, for the most part, 
made the best use they could of the opportunities offered 
and many of them availed themselves of additional facilities 
furnished by the academy at Haverhill, and later of 
the academies and seminaries at Newbury, Vt., New 
Hampton, Northfield and Tilton, while a few were able to 
pursue a college course of study. The chief factor in the old 
time district school was, of course, the teacher, and there 
were teachers and-teachers. Some of these were remembered 
for excellence of work or for peculiarities of administration 
or methods of instruction. The records of the early districts 
have long since disappeared, but there is well authenticated 
tradition that the first schools in the town were taught by 
Obadiah Eastman, Obadiah Eastman, Jr., Jonathan Hale, 
William Coolidge, David Marston and Salmon Niles. The 
early schools were at High Street and on the Meadows. 
The first schoolmaster in the north part of the town was 



206 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

William Coolidge, and when two schools were maintained 
David Marston became a kind of assistant to Squire Cool- 
idge. James J. Page was for many years a notable school- 
master, but his schools were for the most part at High 
Street, on the Meadows, or in other towns. George W. 
Cogswell was for a number of years one of masters in 
the north part of the town. He was noted for his proficiency 
in arithmetic, for the excellence of his penmanship, and for 
"keeping order." This last qualification was one of the 
great essentials in the early days. Birch withes, and heavy 
rock maple rulers, with physical courage and strength to 
wield them, were regarded among the things of first import- 
ance. George W. Cogswell, James J. Page and Nathan B. 
Davis were adepts in the use of these implements of educa- 
tion. In later years famous Benton teachers of the second 
generation were Caleb Wells, George W. Mann, Darius K. 
Davis, Amos K. Torsey and James Page. Some of these 
had gained their inspiration from Moses H. Bixby, of War- 
ren, who as a young man had taught for two or three 
winters in number four. Mr. Bixby was a man of marked 
ability, and later, was for many years a Baptist missionary 
to Burmah, and still later, was tor many years, until his 
death in 1903, pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches 
in Providence, R. I. Other well remembered teachers of 
half a century or so ago were George W. Fisher, of North 
Haverhill, Luther C. Morse, of Center Haverhill, Eugene 
B. Gale, of North Haverhill. There were also some famous 
school ma'ams. Among these were Elvira Clark, of LandafT, 
Emma F. Orcutt, of Newbury, Vt., Mary Carleton, of 
Haverhill, Sarah R. Howe, of Benton, Susan D. Morse, of 
Haverhill, and Lizzie R. Page of Benton, many of whose 
pupils are still living and who have vivid recollections of the 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 207 

ways and means devised to induce them to really accomplish 
something. Miss Orcutt found many of her pupils unable, 
except by dint of great effort to master the multiplication 
table. She finally induced the whole school to sing it to the 
tune of "Yankee Doodle," and the thing was done before the 
boys and girls realized that they had been learning the de- 
tested table. The visits of the superintending and pruden- 
tial school committee were great occasions. They were ex- 
pected as a matter of course to make speeches. Some of 
these latter are well remembered. George W. Mann never 
failed to quote from Pope : 

" 'Tis education that forms the common mind, 
Just as the twig is bent th~ tree's inclined." 

Amos Wilson was at one time prudential school committee 
in district No. 5. On the first day of the term he called be- 
fore the forenoon recess to consult the teacher about fuel, 
when he was invited to address the school. Amos was not 
a speechmaker, but he put on a bold front and made this 
brief address : "Children, I'm glad to see you have im- 
proved much." This was certainly complimentary to the 
teacher, who had been at her post a little over one hour. 
James Page never failed to exhort the pupils to so apply 
themselves that they should become "stars of the first 
magnitude." 

There were no graduation exercises at the close of the 
school year, but then there was that famous last day of 
school, when the superintending committee paid his final 
visit, when the fathers and mothers were present, when 
there were the show recitations, when the boys "spoke 
pieces" and the girls read compositions, and when everybody 
was relieved to know that for three months at least it was 
over. The evening spelling schools in winter brought 



208 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

together the scholars of the various districts in exciting 
rivalry for the honor of being the most accomplished speller 
in town. Winthrop C. Whitcher bore with becoming 
modesty this honor for several years, having probably 
"spelled down" more schools than any other of his time, 
but after many triumphs went down in ignominious defeat 
on the little word "gnaw," which he spelled "knaw." 
George W. Mann, Caleb Wells and Amos G. Torsey were 
among the champions of their day, though this would hardly 
be suspected by those who have seen specimens of their 
orthography in later years. 

As has been previously noted, to "keep school" success- 
fully, first of all it was necessary to "keep order," and various 
tortures were invented by various teachers to accomplish this 
end. "Lickings" amounted to little more than tests of 
endurance, but in this particular they had their uses. To 
shed tears when the schoolmaster "licked" you was to lose 
caste. To take a sound "licking" without a whimper was 
to be a hero. "Lickings" were nothing, but to bend over 
and hold down a nail in the floor, or to hold out a book at 
arms length, or to be sent over to sit with the homliest girl 
in school, or, worst of all, to be sent to Squire William 
Whitcher's house to have that rigid old puritan just talk to 
you, some of these were genuine punishments. 

The success of the schools in towns like Coventry-Benton 
was due in no small degree to the excellence of the text 
books. There were not many of these, but among them 
were some of the best. It is doubtful if there was ever 
compressed into small text book compass so many of the 
essentials of a first-class English education as were found in 
Webster's spelling book, supplemented by Adams' and 
Colburn's arithmetic, Morse's geography and the American 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 209 

Preceptor. 

Benton has now, like other New Hampshire towns, the 
town system of schools. The separate district system has 
been abolished, the prudential committee has given place to 
the town board of education, there is a more or less uniform 
course of study, and a more pretentious system, but meas- 
ured by results, it may fairly be questioned whether there 
has been during the last half century, any phenomenal 
advance. 



210 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE MILITIA AND SOLDIERS. 



Coventry was not settled to any considerable extent until 
after the War of the Revolution, so that no soldiers enlisted 
for service in that war from the town. The proprietors, 
however, with such inhabitants as were in the town hired 
two men to represent them for a time as soldiers in the 
war, as appears from a petition presented to the General 
Court in February, 1786, as follows : 

"To the Honorable Court of the State of New Hampshire 
now sitting at Portsmouth. Humbly shew the inhabitants 
of Coventry in said state, that when called on they hired one 
Jacob Whittier and one Edward Clark to answer as soldiers 
for said town in the Continental army during the war and 
gave them a generous bounty. That said town are so far 
remote from the seat of government and not organized with 
town officers, never made a regular return of them, and that 
there is an extent now against them for delinquency, where- 
fore your petitioners pray that they may be credited for said 
Whittier and Clark and have an order to discharge said ex- 
tent, and your petitioners as in duty shall ever pray, etc. 
Moses Dow, in behalf of said town." 

Accompanying this petition was a certificate of Edward 
Clark to the effect that he served during the war in Col. 
Hazen's regiment for the town of Coventry and had received 
full satisfaction of Samuel Atkinson in behalf of the town 
for his hire or bounty ; also a certified copy of a discharge 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 211 

signed by George Washington which stated that Edward 
Clark had been honored with a badge of merit for four years 
service. The town was allowed £60 for the service of 
Edward Clark. It does not appear that any action was 
taken in the case of Jacob Whittier. 

Among those who rendered the patriot cause service during 
the war for independence, and who later became residents of 
the town were, Obadiah Eastman, the most prominent of 
the early settlers, Josiah Flanders, the father of Israel and 
James Flanders, and Joseph Young, who made his home 
with his daughter Polly after she married Amos Whitcher. 
The grave of Obadiah Eastman is in the cemetery at High 
Street, that of Josiah Flanders in the East cemetery, and 
that of Joseph Young in the West cemetery in the north 
part of the town. 

In the war of 1812, Joseph Edmonds, fifer, and Moses 
Welsh and Jacob Whitcher, privates, served for six months, 
from July 27, 1812, to Jan. 27, 1813, at Stewartstown in 
a detatched company under command of Ephraim Mahurin. 
The company was ordered there because of danger of preda- 
tory excursions of the enemy from Canada, and because 
contraband trade was rife on the frontier, by which the 
government was defrauded of revenue and the enemy 
furnished with supplies. This company was followed Apr. 
6, 1813, by another in command of Edward Freeman, which 
served till Oct. 6, the same year. Of this latter company 
Peter Eastman, of Coventry, was lieutenant. These appear 
to be the only Coventry men who saw service in the second 
war with Great Britian. Stephen C. Sherman, who came 
to Benton from Lisbon later, rendered service at Lake 
Champlain, and in his latter years was granted a pension. 

In the war with Mexico Daniel Batchelder, of Coventry, 



212 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

was captain of Co. H, Ninth United States infantry. This 
regiment was under command of Truman B. Ransom, of 
Vermont, and was a part of the brigade of Gen. Franklin 
Pierce. Capt. Batchelder was born in Corinth, Vt., May 
10, 1803. He was appointed adjutant of the Thirteenth 
regiment Aug. 13, 1833, and Captain of the Sixth Company 
of Infantry March 27, 1839. He represented the town of 
Coventry in the legislature in 1833, '34, '35, '36, '87, '38 
and '39. Subsequently he removed to Haverhill and was 
representative from that town in 1845. March 6, 1847, he 
was appointed a Captain in the Ninth, or New England 
Regiment, United States Infantry, having recruited a large 
part of a company in Haverhill and other nearby towns. 
Before the regiment sailed from Newport, R. I., he was de- 
tailed in recruiting service at Fort Adams, where he remained 
until he resigned in March, 1848. Samuel A. Mann, son of 
Major Samuel Mann, had enlisted in the regular army 
previous to the Mexican war, and served with Taylor's army 
during the entire war. He was in several of the most im- 
portant battles and was detailed for a term as bearer of 
dispatches to General Taylor. 

Though the town furnished but few soldiers in the three 
wars named, military titles were common in the decades 
between 1830 and 1850, though they were won on the blood- 
less arenas of the training ground and muster field. There 
were Captains William Whitcher, Enos Wells, Winthrop 
G. Torsey, Amos Whitcher, Gilbert P. Wright, and several 
others whose military fame has been forgotten, to say nothing 
of a lengthy list of lieutenants, ensigns, sergeants and cor- 
porals. The town also boasted one field officer — a colonel. 
James Norris was noted chiefly for his extreme diffidence, a 
quality which led to extreme awkwardness, but he became 



GOVENTB Y— BENTON, N. H. 213 

corporal and went up through the various grades of promo- 
tion until he became a full fledged colonel. He only saw 
one general muster day in this capacity, and ignominiously 
failed. Once a colonel, however, always a colonel, and he 
was ever after until his death, Dec. 25, 1890, at the age of 
77, Colonel James Norris of the New Hampshire State 
Militia. 

During the War of the Rebellion there were no enlist- 
ments from Benton till the summer of 1862, when under the 
call of the President for more men the town was called upon 
to fill its quota. There were 89 persons in town liable to 
military duty, and an effort was made to secure enlistments. 
Ira Whitcher was appointed enlisting agent, and as a result 
of his efforts, he enlisted Leonard Moody Aug. 6, who was 
mustered into Co. A, 9th regt. as private, died of disease 
at Washington Feb. 16, 1863 ; Daniel M. Howe, Aug. 
15, mustered into Co. G, 11th regt. as private Sept. 2, 
was severely wounded at Spottsylvania Court House May 
12, 1864, and was discharged for disability Apr. 2, 1865 ; 
Charles W. H. Howe, Aug. 15, mustered into Co. G, 11th 
regt. Sept 2, as private, died of disease at Washington Dec. 
31, 1862; David Bowman, Aug. 16, mustered into Co. G, 
1 1th regt. Sept. 2, as private, died of disease at Mt. Sterling, 
Ky., Apr. 17, 1863; Williard W. Coburn, Aug. 18, mus- 
tered into Co. G, 11th regt. as private, severely wounded 
at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862, discharged for disability 
Sept. 20, 1863; Isaac H. Tyler, Aug. 21, mustered into 
Co. G, 11th regt. Sept. 2, as sergeant, discharged June 6, 
1865 as private. Mr. Whitcher enlisted several others at 
this time, but they were credited to the quota of other towns, 
LandafF, Bath and Haverhill. Kimball Davis, son of Jere- 
miah B. Davie, enlisted July 18, 1863, in the 1st New 



214 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Hampshire light battery, and was mustered in under the 
name of William T. Davis. He was later credited to the 
quota of Benton, and was mustered out with his battery June 
9, 1865. George Tirrell, son of B. H. Tirrell, enlisted in 
a Vermont regiment in 1861, was discharged for disability 
and died a little later at his home in Benton. Jeremiah B. 
Davis, Jr., enlisted in the 1st cavalry, but was credited to 
Haverhill. The town took action in September 1862 to 
encourage further enlistments, but there was no favorable 
result, and with the exception of Kimball Davis and Jere- 
miah B. Davis, Jr., above named, there were no volunteers 
from the town after August 1862. 

At a special town meeting Sept. 2, 1862, Ira Whitcher 
moderator, it was voted to pay the sum of $100 bounty to 
each volunteer enlisted since August 14 and to such as may 
enlist before September 15 for three years or during the war ; 
also the sum of $50 to each volunteer for nine months when 
mustered into the service of the United States. Voted that 
the selectmen be authorized to hire money for this purpose 
on the credit of the town. 

At a special town meeting Oct. 10, 1862, Ira Whitcher 
moderator, it was voted that the selectmen be authorized to 
hire money on the credit of the town for the relief of families 
of volunteers who may be in needy circumstances. 

When the call for more men came in 1863 the quota of 
the town was not full and draft was ordered. A special 
town meeting was held Sept. 29, 1863, Ira Whitcher mod- 
erator. Voted to raise a committee ot three to take the 
matter ot draft into consideration and report at an adjourned 
meeting. Chose : Ira Whitcher, Caleb Wells and Chase 
Whitcher. Voted to submit the whole matter of meeting 
draft and devising best means of procuring substitutes to the 





Daniel M. Howe. Pardon W. Allen. 

Both the above rendered honorable service in the War of the Rebellion. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 215 

committee appointed, to report at an adjourned meeting Oct. 
15. At the adjourned meeting Oct. 15 voted to leave the 
whole matter with the committee. 

For the annual town meeting, March 19, 1864, the 
following appears in the record. "The committee that was 
chosen to provide for the relief of those drafted or conscripted 
into the service of the United States having reported verbally 
that they had procured on the credit of the town $300 and 
expended the same to relieve George E. Brown from the 
draft, on motion voted that the town approve of and pay for 
the same." 

Another call for men was issued July 18, 1864. The 
town did not respond with volunteers, and the committee 
chosen the year previous proceeded to meet the draft that 
was ordered by the purchase of substitutes, under the 
authority of a special town meeting held Aug. 31, 1864, 
James J. Page moderator. The committee reported the 
existing condition of affairs with draft threatened. It was 
moved that the town offer bounties to enlisted men of $800 
for one year, $500 for two years and $800 for three years. 
This motion was debated at length, and it appearing that 
even if it were adopted volunteers would not be forthcoming, 
the motion was withdrawn, and it was voted to submit 
the whole matter to the committee with authority to act for 
the town. 

At the regular meeting for voting for presidential electors, 
Nov. 6, 1864, the committee submitted the folic /ing report : 

"The undersigned, a committee chosen by the town to 
provide for filling quota under call of July 16, 1886, submit 
the following statement of facts. The quota was eight men. 
The provost marshal made a draft to fill the quota, with the 
addition of 100 per cent, making 16 men in all : Henry A. 



216 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Glazier, James Page, James H. Keyser, Horace W. Gordon, 
Emery Marston, Philemon P. Oakes, Nathaniel Mulliken, 
George Wells, B Laderbush, Wesley B. Marston, Claudius 
Libertie, Chester C. Clough, Lafayette W. Flanders, Moses 
W. Howe, Francis Dvvyer, and William T. Torsey. Henry 
A. Glazier and Lafayette W. Flanders were discharged 
because of disability, and Claudius Libertie on accouut of 
being a foreigner. We procured one volunteer at a cost of 
$700, and seven substitutes for whom we paid $5385, one 
each for the following named drafted men : George Wells, 
Nathaniel Mulliken, Emery Marston, Wesley B. Marston, 
Moses W. Howe, James H. Keyser and Chester C. Clough. 
These were mustered into service for three years. The whole 
sum paid out is $6085. The selectmen of the town have 
provided us with notes against the town signed by them in 
behalf of the town, for the following sums, all payable to 
individuals of the town or bearer on demand ; nine for five 
hundred dollars each, three for three hundred dollars each, 
three for two hundred dollars each, and one for eighty-five 
dollars, said notes having been endorsed by the payees 
and others of the town. We have been able to raise the 
money required on these notes now outstanding against the 
town. To meet this indebtedness we have placed in the 
hands of the selectmen demands due from the state to indi- 
viduals for whom substitutes were furnished and to the indi- 
viduals who volunteered as bounties to the amount of twenty- 
five hundred dollars. 

(Signed) Ira Whitcher, 
Caleb Wells, 
Chase Whitcher. 
It was voted to accept the report, and the selectmen be 
instructed to collect of the state the amount due for the 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 217 

bounties and appropriate the same in part payment of the 
notes before described, and that they be directed to hire 
money to meet the balance of all or any part of said notes 
as may be demanded by the bearers thereof. 

It appears that the $2400 was subsequently collected of 
the state, and the selectman hired money on the credit of 
the town to pay these notes, though it would be a matter of 
extreme difficulty to find any law, under color of which the 
town could legally incur indebtedness, or raise money by 
taxation to hire substitutes for men drafted into the military 
service of the United States. The fact was that most of the 
drafted men were of themselves or their immediate friends 
unable to procure substitutes, and there was a common and 
unanimous feeling on the part of the voters of the town that 
no citizen should be forced into the army against his will. 
So the town in its corporate capacity assumed the burden, 
illegal though it was, and in time paid the debt. It may not 
have been the most exalted kind of patriotism, but there was 
this about it, the citizens of the town stood together for the 
personal protection of each other from a draft. It is to be 
doubted if any other town in the state purchased substitutes 
for drafted men and raised the purchase money by public 
taxation. This part of Benton's military history is at least 
unique. The substitutes were assigned to the Seventh Regi- 
ment, and all except two rendered honorable service. Dennis 
Hayes, substitute for Moses W. Howe, and John Adams, 
substitute for James H. Keyser, deserted. It should perhaps 
be said in behalf of these drafted men that no one of them 
has as yet applied for a pension. There was one Benton 
man who previous to the draft disabled himself by cutting 
off the thumb of his right hand in order to escape. Had he 
only waited he might have saved his thumb, and also spared 



218 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

himself the nickname of "Thumby" which clung to him 
through life. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. ff. 219 



CHAPTER X. 

THE CEMETERIES. 

The earliest establishment of cemeteries in the town is 
that at "High Street," the two in the north part of the town 
being of later date. There was a small cemetery in the north 
part of the town in what is now a field at the top of the hill 
a few rods to the south of the present East cemetery, but all 
traces of it have been lost for many years. There is also a 
small cemetery on the Meadows on the A. L. Warren farm, 
but only a few of the graves are marked. The following are 
the inscriptions on the headstones. 

Caleb S. Ford died January 6, 1848. 

Elisha Ford died Feb. 14, 1849, in his 79th year. 

Salome Ford, wife of Elisha Ford, died July 26, 1853, in 
her 83rd year. 

High Street Cemetert. The cemetery at "High 
Street" is in a very neglected condition. Many of the head- 
stones have fallen and are partly buried under decaying grass 
and leaves, while others are broken and the pieces so scattered 
that the inscriptions are indecipherable. The following were, 
however, found there in the autumn of 1904. 

Mrs. Ruth, wife of Obadiah Eastman, Jr., died October 
19, 1813, in the 33rd year of her age, 

Bert L. Littlefield died April 10, 1861, ae. 26. 

Judith, daughter of Timothy and Betsey Ayer, died Jan. 
13, 1834, ae. 19 yrs. 7 mos. 



220 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Elijah Gray died 1823, ae. 78 years. 

Elijah Gray died Nov. 6, 1855, aged 83 years. 

Alitha, wife of Elijah Gray, died Apr. 19, 1862, aged 82. 

William D. McQuestion, son of Daniel and Betsey Patch, 
died January 14, 1829, aged 4 years, 2 mos. 

Eunice G., daughter of Granville and Isabel Flanders, 
died Dec. 26, 1856, aged 17 years. 

Susan G., daughter of Granville and Isabel Flanders, 
died Nov. 3, 1856, aged 12 years. 

Mr. Stephen Batchelder died March 15, 1827, in the 22d 
year of his age. 

Louisa J. Welch died Feb. 27, 1863, ae. 21 years. 

Silas M. Welch died Feb. 23, 1863, ae. 38 years, 4 mos. 

Bartlett Welch died March 16, 1863, ae. 33 years, 4 mo. 

Nancy, wife of Silas M. Welch, died Apr. 28, 1877, ae. 
55 years. 

Franklin, son of Bartlett and Alice R. Welch, died Oct. 
1, 1873, aged 19 years, 6 mos. 

Alice R. wife of John L. Stevens, formerly wife of Bart- 
lett Welch, died Sept. 16, 1877, aged 44 years. 

Effie, daughter of D. L. and L. M. Wright, died Mar. 
26, 1872, ae. 6 mos., 23 days. 

Hetty, wife of Curtis C. Swift, died March 18, 1836, ae. 
20 yrs. 

Lucinda, wife of Joseph Nudd, died Dec. 29, 1869, ae. 
58 yrs. 

Abijah Wright died Feb. 26, 1870, aged 91 years. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 221 

Hannah, wife of Abijah Wright, died Apr. 18, 1852, ae. 
74 years. 
Josiah F. Jeffers died Sept 21, 1866, aged 55 years. 

William Sampson, died June 16, 1845, aged 76 years. 
Mary, wife of William Sampson, died December 14, 
1861, aged 86. 

Hugh Matthews died Sept. 23, 1838, aged 87 years. 

John Jeffers died Sept. 5, 1859, ae. 77 years. 

Lydia, wife of John Jeffers, died Dec. 8, 1831, aged 27 
years. 

Susan, wife of John Jeffers, died Apr. 27, 1833, ae. 30 
years. 

Polly, wife of John Jeffers, died Sept. 19, 1861, aged 76 
years. 

Samuel Jackson died Jan. 28, 1813, in his 70th year. 

Obadiah Eastman, Esq., died Jan. 10, 1812, aged 64 
years, 8 months. 

Mehitabel, wife of Obadiah Eastman, died Dec 27, 1815, 
aged 68 years, 8 months. 

[The above inscriptions are on a white marble monu- 
ment, which bears on its base the words ''Erected by Ira 
Whitcher in memory of one of the first settlers of Coventry."] 

Moses Eastman died March 6, 1813, in his 31st year. 
Eliza Boynton, wife of James Eastman, died Jan. 29, 
1813, aged 35 years. 

Ruth Welch, wife of Jonathan Welch, died Dec. 19, 
1855, aged 66 years and 6 mos. 



222 SOME THINGS ABOUT. 

There are in this cemetery scores of unmarked graves, or 
of graves where gravestones have been broken and destroyed. 

Just over the Benton line there is a email cemetery at 
Warren Summit, in which the late Ira Whitcher erected a 
monument which bears the following inscriptions. 

Chase Whitcher died Feb. 1836, ae. 82. 

Hannah Morrill, his wife, died Oct. 31, 1826, ae. 68. 

Chase Whitcher died Jan. 26, 1850, ae. 62. 

Mary Green, his wife, died Dec. 14, 1863, ae. 77. 

The first named Chase Whitcher was one of the first 
settlers of the town of Warren, and his sons William, Jacob, 
Chase and David were among the first settlers in the north 
part of Benton. 

In this same Warren Summit cemetery is another monu- 
ment with these inscriptions. 

James M. Harriman b. June 8, 1828— d. July 19, 1898. 

Sarah J. Cady, his wife, b. May 18, 1845— d. Aug. 18, 
1899. 

East Cemetery, North Benton. The two cemeteries 
in the north part of the town are both well kept and compare 
favorably in appearance with those in other rural sections of 
the state. Just why the lot where the first burials were 
made, and which has been previously mentioned as in a field 
to the south of the present East burying ground, was aban- 
doned does not appear, but it is likely that a new ground 
was secured when the present highway was built, and the 
old highway which ran by the abandoned cemetery was dis- 
continued some time in the thirties. The inscriptions on 
headstones and monuments in the present East cemetery 
situated on an elevation a little to the west of the meeting 
house are as follows : 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 223 

Francis A. Oakes died August 8, 1863, aged 23 years. 
Martha A. Day, his wife, died Sept. 1, 1863, aged 24 
years. 

Hezekiah Smith b. Jan. 25, 1796, d. Oct. 18, 1871. 

Nancy Hoit, his wife, b. Sept. 17, 1796, d. Sept. 18, 1883. 
[They were the parents of Mrs. Samuel C. Annis.] 

James M. Sherman d. March 1, 1858, aged 7 mos. 

Joseph Annis died June 5, 1859, aged 76 years. 

Betsey Currier, wife of Joseph Annis, died Jan. 16, 1865, 
aged 77 years. 

Samuel C. Annis, b. May 27, 1815, d. Mar. 15, 1899. 

Mary F. Smith, his wife, b. June 6, 1825, d. Aug. 27, 
1892. 

Alonzo Annis, son of Samuel C. and Mary Annis, died 
Feb. 7, 1865, aged 5 years and 6 months. 

Betsey J. Morse died May 9, 1866, ae. 47, [daughter of 
Joseph and Betsey Annis, and wife of William F. Morse.] 

William H. Annis, b. Mar. 2, 1832. d. Dec. 30, 1897. 

Eliza A., daughter of William F. and Betsey J. Morse, 
d. July 27, 1842, ae. 2 years. 

Eva M., daughter of John and Eliza Flanders, d. Oct. 23, 
1858, ae. 1 yr., 3 mos. 

Elias P., son of Alvah C. and Mary K. Wright, d. Jan. 
21, 1842, aged 4 years, 8 mos. 

Israel Flanders died Dec. 10, 1887, aged 87 years. 
Polly Wells, his wife, died July 25, 1894, aged 96 years. 
Josiah Flanders died April 8, 1836, ae. 78 years. 
Deborah M. Flanders, his wife, died Sept 12, 1846, ae. 
82 years. 



224 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Elmer N., son of Nelson F. and Hannah Flanders Noyes, 
died May 16, 1856, aged 2 yrs. 2 mos. 

Enos Wells died Oct. 16, 1862, aged 71 years. 

Lois, wife of Enos Wells, died Apr. 4, 1821, aged 31 
yrs. 

Sally Clark, wife of Enos Wells, died Oct. 18, 1894, aged 
93 yrs., 11 mos. 

Chester, son of Enos and Sally Wells, died Feb. 7, 1843, 
aged 7 months. 

Ephraim Cooley b. Dec. 13, 1816, d. Nov. 29, 1897. 
Holman D. Cooley b. Feb. 23, 1843, d. Feb. 17, 1892. 
Myra Cooley, wife of Dennis D. Davis, b. Oct. 3, 1854, 
d. Aug. 13, 1881. 

William Leighton died Aug 18, 1877, aged 35. 

Mary E., wife of Charles K. Merrill, died Oct 8, 1839, 
aged 45 years, 9 mos. 

Daniel W. Brown died June 28, 1859, aged 26 years. 
Olive, wife of John Brown, died Nov. 12, 1844, aged 50 
years. 

Betsey, wife of John Cox, died June 1, 1855, aged 77. 

James A. Cox b. Feb. 20, 1822, d. June 8, 1897. 

Sarah J., wife of James A. Cox, died June 6, 1881, aged 
59. 

Leonard C, son of James A. and Sarah J. Cox, d. Apr. 
26, 1853, aged 13. 

Hannah C, daughter of James H. and Hannah Cox, died 
Oct 5, 1852, ae. 20 yrs. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 225 

Benjamin, eon ot James H. and Hannah Cox, d. Mar. 14, 
1837, aged 6 weeks. 

Caroline C, wife of Lemuel Cashier, d. May 1, 1857. 

James H. Cox b. 1795— d. 1879. 

Hannah French, his wife, b. 1801— d. 1877. 

George W., son of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. Mar. 
14, 1849, ae. 2 years. 

Hosea M., son of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. March 
24, 1859, aged 1 mo. 

Sarah L., daughter of Bartlett and Anna Marston d. Oct. 
16, 1863, ae. 19 years. 

May B., daughter of Bartlett and Anna Marston, d. Oct. 
27, 1864, ae. 4 years. 

Lafayette Wells d. July 18, 1830, aged 25. 

Hannah, wife of Chellis Goodwin, d. June 22, 1831, ae. 
34. 

Sally, wife of Chellis Goodwin, d. Dec. 21, 1832, ae. 29. 

Ara Smith d. Oct. 5, 1876, aged 76. 
Margaret, wife 'of Ara Smith, d. May 21, 1851, ae. 52 
yrs. 

Ruth E. d. May 21, 1833, ae. 8 years. 
Susan P. d. August 10, 1833, ae. 6 years. 
Laura A. d. Aug. 29, 1833, ae. 4 years. 
George B. d. March, 1836, ae. 3 years. 
[Children of Ara and Margaret Smith.] 

Nathan K., son of John K. and Sarah Davis, d. March 
8, 1846, ae. 11 mos. 

Mary, wife of Orrin Marston, d. Feb. 5, 1867, aged 53 
years. 



226 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Sarah J., daughter of Orrin and Mary Marston, died 
Sept. 27, 1867, aged 23 years, 10 months. 

Castanus P., son of Orrin and Mary Marston, b. August 
27, 1845— d. February 3, 1887. 

Amos C. Mann d. Aug. 22, 1875, aged 70 years. 

Lyman Bemis d. June 18, 1887, aged 47 years. 

John L., son of Asa and C. R. Dowse, died Oct. 19, 
1882, aged 6 years. 

Benjamin C. Hutchins d. Feb. 27, 1857, aged 74 years. 
Sally Hutchins, daughter of Benjamin C. Hutchins, d. 
Aug. 17, 1826, ae. 26 yrs. 

Noah C. Hutchins d. Jan 19, 1860, aged 37 years. 
Benjamin F. Hutchins d. Dec. 30, 1856. aged 44 years. 
Ellen B. Hutchins, d. Apr. 29, 1892, aged 75 years. 

Myra Ann, d. Dec. 19, 1863, ae. 23 years. 
Emma M., d. June 28, 1861, ae. 17 years. 
George C. F. d. Mar. 8, 1864, ae. 14 years. 
Moses C. W. d. Mar. 17, 1864, ae. l'O years. 
Benjamin W. d. Mar. 17, 1864, ae. 8 years. 

[Children of Benjamin F. and Ellen B. Hutchins.] 

Samuel Bishop died Sept. 27, 1858, aged 83 years. 

Betsey, wife of Samuel Bishop, died March 6, 1864, aged 
88 years. 

Franklin Bishop d. Feb. 16, 1852, aged 31 years. 

Martin Bishop d. Jan. 10, 1852, aged 24 years. 

Helen Ann Bishop, wife of James Hall, d. Jan. 10, 
1848, aged 20 yrs. 

Sarah Ann Bishop, wife of George W. Kendall, d. June 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 227 

18, 1847, aged 21 years. 

Maria W. Bishop died Nov. 13, 1846, aged 24 years. 

William Keyser, died Jan. 20, 1865, aged 68 years. 
Abigail Keyser, his wife, died Mar. 26, 1861, aged 65 
years. 

William K. Bruce died Mar. 7, 1858, aged 37 years. 
Hannah E. Keyser died July 4, 1848, aged 24 years. 

David Clough died Sept 27, 1865, aged 62 years. 
Miriam M. Clough, wife of Chester Clough, died May 11, 

1871, aged 32 years. 

Stephen C. Sherman b. Feb. 11, 1792— d. Oct. 19, 1879. 
Hannah, wife of Stephen C. Sherman, b. Jan. 14, 1796, 
— d. Oct. 26, 1880. 

Hittie B. Sherman, wife of C. F. G. Smith, died Feb. 4, 

1872, aged 39 years, 8 mos. 

Darius K. Davis d. Feb. 10, 1869, aged 1 year 4 mos. 
Abel E. Davis d. Feb. 9, 1869, aged 10 years, 8 mos. 
[Children of I. B. and E. F. Davis.] 

Levi Brooks died Aug. 16, 1857, aged 61 years, 3 mos. 
Francella N., daughter of Levi and Eveline Brooks, aged 
12 years, 7 mos. 

Timothy Brooks died May 25, 1859, aged 24 years. 
Isaac Brooks died March 27, 1852. aged 15 yrs., 4 mos. 

John O. Keyser died Feb. 16, 1891, aged 69 years. 
Eliza L. Harriman, hie wife, died June 22, 1893, aged 
79 years, 11 months. 

John Wilson b. England 1812— d. March 4, 1891. 



228 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

George P. Wilson b. Jan. 6, 1891— d. Apr. 21, 1893. 
Mildred E. Wilson b. May 27, 1889— d. Apr. 22, 1893. 
Emily J. Wilson b. Aug. 13, 1884— d. Sept. 6, 1899. 

John E. Keyser died Jan. 7, 1896, aged 73 years. 
Willie S. Keyser, son of John E. and Mahala S. Keyser, 
died March 24, 1867, aged 16 years, 5 mos. 

Lydia A. Merrill, wife of Stephen H. R. Marden, 1839 
— 1901. 

West Cemetery. This cemetery, situated on the main 
road to Bath and Haverhill, near the school house in district 
No. 5, has been much improved in recent years, and the lots 
are in the main well kept. There is a fund of $500 estab- 
lished by the late Ira Whitcher the income of which is to be 
applied annually for the care of this comparatively small 
burying ground. 

The following are the inscriptions on the monuments and 
tombstones : 

Kimball Tyler b. Sept 27, 1783, d. Aug. 28, 1856. 

Dorothy Day, wife of Kimball Tyler, b. Sept. 4, 1793, 
d. Mar. 7, 1868. 

Sally Streeter, wife of Kimball Tyler, b. Feb. 28, 1784, 
d. May 1, 1842. 

Sally S. Tyler, daughter of Alfred Tyler, d. May 28, 
1847, aged 5 years. 

Alfred Tyler d. Apr. 11, 1843, ae. 28 years. 

Laura E. Keyser, wife of Frederick M. Tyler, b. July 
28, 1857, d. Oct. 16, 1893. 

Ray E. Tyler b. Nov. 15, 1884, d. June 3, 1893. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 229 

Alice E. Tyler b. Aug. 14, 1890, d. June 5, 1893. 
Scott I. Tyler b. July 11, 1882, d. June 7, 1893. 
[Children of F. M. and Laura E. Tyler.] 

Carrie A. Spinney, wife of Byron M. Tyler, b. 1859, d. 
1897. 

Beulah L. Foss d. Sept. 2, 1891, aged 9 months. 

Harvey A. Hunkings d. Jan. 17, 1859, aged 28 years. 

Eugene T. Bowman d. Oct. 16, 1859, aged 7 years. 
Myron P. Bowman d. Mar. 24, 1859, aged 4 years. 
John M. Bowman d. Apr. 10, 1859, aged 6 months. 
[Children of David and Hannah Parker Bowman.] 

Asa Hinkley died Nov. 11, 1848, aged 88 years. 
Margaret Hinkley, his wife, died May 11, 1848, aged 75 
years. 

James Hinkley died April 7, 1845, aged 43 years. 

Charlotte Bradish, wife of Edwin Tyler, died Oct. 31, 
1851, aged 31 years. 

Lucinda Bradish died Sept. 9, 1842, aged 25 years. 

Samuel Smith died at the residence of his son, July 5, 
1842, aged 74 years. He formerly resided in Londonderry, 
Vt. 

Thomas French died June 2, 1837, in his 80th year. 
Ruth French, his wife. 

Charles C. Tyler died July 27, 1878, aged 51 years. 
Susan M., daughter of Charles C. and Diana Tyler, died 
Nov. 15, 1862, aged 1 year, 8 mos., 15 da. 



230 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Dexter, son of Charles C. and Diana Tyler, died March 
18, 1882, aged 18 years. 

Mary J. Clark, wife of A. E. Tyler, b. Dec. 13, 1867, 
died June 26, 1894. 

Jonathan Davis died Sept. 23, 1888, aged 80 years. 

Lydia G., wife of Jonathan Davis, died January 7, 1894, 
aged 87 years. 

Eveline S. Davis died Oct. 2, 1840, aged 1 year. 

Winthrop G. Davis died May 22, 1847, aged 3 years. 

Sabrina E. Davis died January 18, 1863, aged 14 years, 
4 months. 

[Children of Jonathan and Lydia G. Davis.] 

Abraham Norris died Sept. 7, 1840, aged 58 years. 
Polly Norris died Sept. 26, 1861, aged 79 years. 
Martha Norris died Oct. 16, 1888, aged 82 years. 
James Norris died Dec. 25, 1890, aged 77 years. 

Allie A. Howe, wife of Kendrick L. Howe, died Feb. 
24, 1883, aged 17 years, 5 mos., 15 days. 

Ben D. M. Howe died Sept. 4, 1880, aged 4 mos. 

Silas, son of Daniel M. and Susan Howe, died Feb. 28, 
1858, aged 8 mos. 

Samuel Howe d. Feb. 5, 1899, aged 86 years. 
Merab Howe d. Nov. 25, 1888, aged 77 years. 
Royal Howe, son of Samuel and Merab Howe, died Aug. 
28, 1852, aged 12 years. 

John C. Speed died March 13, 1901, aged 64. 
Israel H. Davis b. Sept. 12, 1804, d. Nov. 23, 1888. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 23 1 

Sally Batchelder, wife of Israel H. Davis, b. Jan. 15, 
1804, d. April 11, 1898. 

Sally, wife of Abel Batchelder, died Feb. 16, 1833, aged 
65 years. 

Nathaniel Howe b. June 14, 1793, d. Feb. 3, 1835. 

Rachel, wife of Isaac Bickford, late consort of Nathaniel 
Howe, died Dec. 10, 1862, aged 67 years. 

Lucinda, daughter of Nathaniel and Rachel Howe, died 
November 8, 1833, aged 1 year. 

Jonathan Davis died January 26, 1843, aged 69 years. 

Nathan B. Davis b. 1798, d. 1864. 

Abigail S. Davis b. 1802, d. 1891. 

Abigail S. Davis 1833—1835. 

Sally Ann H. Davis 1835—1836. 

Eveline B. Davis 1843—1847. 

[Children of Nathan B. and Abigail S. Davis.] 

Peter Howe 2nd, died Sept. 1880, aged 66 years. 
Harriet W., wife of Peter Howe 2nd, died May 20, 1856, 
aged 37. 

Rufus W. Howe died Nov. 23, 1864, aged 25 years. 
Harry L. Howe died July 16, 1890, aged 22 years. 

Samuel Mann died July 19, 1842, aged 69 years. 
Mary, his wife, died Nov. 15, 1866, aged 86 years. 
Edward F. Mann died Sept. 7, 1842, aged 24 years. 
Samuel A. Mann b. May 6, 1812, d. Oct. 26, 1873. 
Sally Bailey, his wife, b. June 18, 1809, d. Oct. 26, 1895. 

Mary J. Coburn, daughter of Nathan Coburn, died Oct. 
5, 1832, aged 2 years. 



232 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

John Stow died Oct. 23, 1858, aged 73 years, 7 months. 
Sally, wife of John Stow, died June 5, 1859, aged 71 
years. 

Reuben K. Stow died April 16, 1833, aged 19 years. 
Joseph Stow died March 18, 1835, aged 9 years. 
Daniel K. Stow died July 10, 1835, aged 15 years. 

Jacob Whitcher died Jan. 11, 1841, aged 50 years. 

Sarah Richardson, his wife, died May 2, 1834, aged 45 
years. 

Stephen R., son of Jacob and Sarah R. Whitcher, died 
Jan 1, 1843, aged 23 years. 

Loren D., son of Jacob and Sarah R. Whitcher, died 
Sept. 3, 1821, aged 1 year. 

George H., son of James A. and Hannah Mann, died 
Feb. 12, 1841, aged 2 years. 

George W. Mann 1821—1901. 
Susan M. Whitcher, his wife, 1825—1854. 
Osman C. Mann died Oct. 20, 1870, aged 17 years, 10 
months. 

Joseph Young died March 30, 1852, aged 82 years, 9 
months. 

Eunice Young died August 21, 1853, aged 80 years 2 
mos. 

Daniel Howe died February 7, 1860, aged 74 years. 
Phebe Howe, wife of Daniel Howe, died July 2, 1876, 
aged 83 years. 

Otis, son of Daniel and Phebe Howe, died August 31, 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 233 

1841, aged 10 years. 

Betsey S., daughter of Elisha and Susan Meader, died 
December 27, 1839, aged 19 years. 

Samuel Royce died Sept. 25, 1873, aged 91 years. 

Dorcas, wife of Samuel Royce, died June 30, 1842, aged 
60 years. 

Ruth, daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Royce, died Janu- 
ary 27, 1842, aged 18 years. 

Lydia M., wife of Moses Noyes, daughter of Samuel and 
Dorcas Royce, died Oct. 14, 1850, aged 32 years. 

William Whitcher died March 5, 1859, aged 75 years. 

Mary, wife of William Whitcher, died Sept. 27, 1843, 
aged 61 years. 

James Whitcher died August 30, 1837, aged 16 years. 

William Whitcher, Jr., died Oct. 16, 1839, aged 30 
years. 

Moses Whitcher died March 18, 1846, aged 38 years. 

Chase Whitcher died May 4, 1883, aged 61 years. 

Sarah, wife of Chase Whitcher, died Feb. 17, 1878, aged 
64 years. 

Frances C, daughter of Chase and Sarah Whitcher, b. 
Aug. 22, 1849— d. Oct. 4, 1889. 

Hannah, daughter of Chase and Sarah Whitcher, died 
Oct. 15, 1854, aged 11 months. 

Edward F. Mann, Sept. 7, 1845— Aug. 19, 1892. 

Marian, daughter of Edward F. and Elvah G. Mann, 
Feb. 13, 1882— Nov. 3, 1896. 

Samuel Whitcher b. Aug. 24, 1814, d. Oct. 8, 1879. 
Emily Quimby, wife of Samuel Whitcher, b. Jan. 25, 



234 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

1818, died May 5, 1888. 

David S. Whitcher b. Nov. 30, 1846, d. Mar. 11, 1881. 

William F. Polley born December 28, 1865, died Sep- 
tember 18, 1895. 

Susan E. Whitcher, wife of George H. Clark, born Apr. 
20, 1859, died Apr. 24, 1900. 

John P. Cox died Nov. 19, 1876, aged 64 years. 
Adaline M. Carpenter, his wife, died August 5, 1890, 
aged 70 years. 

Harriet Noyes, daughter of Jonathan Noyes, died Apr. 
15, 1836, aged 11 months. 

Benjamin, son of Jonathan Noyes, died Oct. 10, 1842, 
aged 8 months. 

Samuel Noyes, son of Jonathan Noyes, died Oct. 8, 
1842, aged 16 years. 

Spaftord W. Cowan died Oct. 12, 1891, aged 80 years. 
Alantha Parker, wife of Spafford W. Cowan, died Nov. 
24, 1892, aged 73 years. 

Peter Howe died Nov. 11, 1871, aged 84 years. 

Mary Powers, wife of Peter Howe, died Feb. 6, 1876, 
aged 87 years. 

Ann Powers, wife of James Snow, died Feb. 5, 1869, 
aged 81 years. 

Frank, son of P. W. and Dorcas Allen, died Apr. 24, 
1881, aged 22 months. 

John S. Annis died May 16, 1902, aged 50 years. 
Moses Torsey died Apr. 29, 1842, aged 71 years. 



OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 235 

Sally, wife of Moses Torsey, died Feb. 18, 1853, aged 
75 years. 

Winthrop G. Torsey died Nov. 12, 1873, aged 74 years. 

Theodosia, wife of Winthrop G. Torsey, died March 27, 
1861, aged 61 years. 

Amos G. Torsey died May 21, 1857, aged 27 years. 

William T. Torsey died March 6, 1894, aged 66 years. 

Irene, wife of William T. Torsey, died June 18, 1867, 
aged 33 years. 

Amos W., son of William T. and Irene Torsey, died 
July 25, 1863, aged 3 years. 

Ella E., daughter of Horace W. and Lucinda C. Gordon, 
died July 11, 1858, aged 2 years. 

Georgie Aldrich, wife of William W. Eastman, Apr. 16, 
1861— April 19, 1892. 

Sylvester Eastman died January 19, 1860, aged 45 years. 

Louisa Whitcher, wife of Sylvester Eastman, died May 
4, 1899, aged 77 years. 

Winthrop G., son of William and Sarah Davie, died June 
17, 1864, aged 15 years. 

Moses Carpenter died January 2, 1858, aged 64 years. 
Mary Brown, his wife, 1799 — 1863. 
Phebe J., wife of Alonzo D. Carpenter, died Oct. 10, 
1857. 

Martha J., wife of Halsey R. Howe, died Oct. 20, 1878, 
aged 26 years. 

Herbert F., eon of Halsey R. and Martha J. Howe, died 
Dec. 17, 1889, aged 11 years. 



236 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Prescott Parker born Nov. 30, 1821— died June 13, 1898. 
Myrtie E. Keyser, wife of John Wallace, died Feb. 26, 
1900, aged 26. 

Charles B. Keyser died March 24, 1900, aged 74 years. 

It will be noted that none of the inscriptions bear a death 
date prior to 1830 except a few of those in the "High 
Street" cemetery. There were deaths in the north part of 
the town, but in the struggle for existence which the pioneer 
settlers were making in that part of the town the graves were 
unmarked, a fact which speaks eloquently of the poverty 
endured and hardships borne by these early settlers. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 237 



CHAPTER XI. 

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. 

The record of births, marriages and deaths as found in 
the books of the town clerk is especially incomplete, mea- 
ger and unsatisfactory during the fifty years between 1830 
and 1880. The early settlers started well but their de- 
scendants grew careless and for ye&rs there was seldom an 
entry made by the town clerk. Such entries as were made 
have been carefully copied for this chapter, together with 
such information as has been obtainable from other sources, 
this latter being enclosed in brackets or appended in the 
form of foot notes. 

Marriages. At Coventry, March 7, 1802, by Obadiah 
Eastman, Justice of the Peace, Ira Martin, of Bradford, 
Vt., to Sally Flanders, of Haverhill. 

At Coventry, April 21, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Jeremiah Jackson to Anne Niles, both of 
Coventry. 

At Coventry, Sept. 8, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice 
of the Peace, Robert Elliott, Jr., of Coventry, to Senthe 
SpafFord, of Haverhill. 

At Coventry, Oct. 2, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice 
of the Peace, Winthrop Elliott, of Coventry, to Polly Lufkin, 
of Haverhill. 

Oct. 16, 1803, by Obadiah Eastman, Justice of the Peace, 
Josiah Flanders, of Haverhill, to Abigail Mead, of Coventry. 

At Coventry, December 13, 1807, by William Coolidge, 
Justice of the Peace, Elisha Clifford, of Wentworth, to 



238 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Betsey Tyler, of Coventry. 

March 14, 1809, by William Coolidge, Justice of the 
Peace, Peter Eastman to Sally Fuller, both of Coventry 

At New Holderness, March 21, 1813, by Robert Towle, 
rector of the Episcopal church, Chase Whitcher, of Coventry, 
to Mary Green, of New Holderness. 

May 9, 1813, by William Coolidge, Justice of the Peace, 
James Rogers, of Greenfield, Mass., to Hepzibath Tyler, of 
Coventry. 

Jan. 23, 1814, by William Coolidge, Justice of the 
Peace, Mr. Obadiah Eastman to Mrs. Eunice Eastman. 

At Coventry, Feb. 10, 1814, by Daniel Davis, Justice of 
the Peace, David Elliott to Mary Mead, both of Coventry. 

June 9, 1814, James Eastman to Polly Boynton. 

June 20. 1819, by Daniel Davis, Justice of the Peace, 
Mo&es Mead to Mary Matthews, both of Coventry. 

At Coventry, Dec. 2, 1819, by Daniel Davis, Justice of 
the Peace, James Ford to Betsey Ayer, both of Coventry. 

Dec. 8, 1819, by Abel Merrill, Esq., of Warren, John 
Lathrop, of Chelsea, Vt., to Lavina Eastman, of Coventry. 

By Nathan Coburn, Justice of the Peace, Robert Gray, 
of Coventry, to Mary Stickney, of Orford. 

Oct. 29, 1821, by William Whitcher, Justice of the 
Peace, Elisha Kimball, of Methuen, Mass., to Sally Torsey, 
of Coventry. 

At Coventry, January 18, 1823, by William Whitcher, 
Justice of the Peace, Winthrop G. Torsey, of Coventry, to 
Theodoeia Tyler, of Piermont. 

Dec. 28, 1823, by William Whitcher, Justice of the 
Peace, Robert Coburn to Betsey Torsey, both of Coventry. 

In Coventry, July 6, 1828, by Rev. Daniel Batchelder, 
Levi James, of Newbury, Vt., to Cyrene Batchelder of 



00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N.H. 239 

Coventry. 

At Coventry, Oct. 14, 1830, by Nathan Coburn, J. P., 
Jonathan Coburn to Mrs. Lucy Connor, both ot Haverhill. 

June 16, 1833, by Elder George W. Cogswell, Chellis 
Goodwin to Olive Flanders, both of Coventry. 

At Coventry, Nov. 2, 1833, by Nathan Coburn, Esq., 
Orrin Marston to Mary Torsey, both of Coventry. 

Feb. 5, 1834, by Elder Barzilla Pierce, Milton Southard 
to Steneth Ayer, of Coventry. 

In Coventry, Apr. 18, 1834, by Elder George W. Cogs- 
well, John Jeffers to Polly Royce, both of Coventry. 

In Lisbon, July 6, 1834, by George W. Cogswell, Jacob 
Whitcher, of Coventry, to Rebecca Allen, of Lisbon. 

In Coventry, Oct. 1, 1837, by Elder Horace Webber, 
Edwin Tyler to Charlotte Bradish. 

In Coventry, Feb. 12, 1838, by Enos Wells, J. P., Hazen 
Whitcher to Sally Tyler, both of Coventry. 

[Hazen Whitcher was the son of Jacob and Sarah Rich- 
ardson Whitcher. Sally Tyler was the daughter of Kim- 
ball and Sally Streeter Tyler. They resided in Benton for 
a few years after their marriage when they removed to 
Stoneham, Mass. Both lived to an advanced age. Of their 
children one daughter, Sarah Richardson, the wife of Col. 
Oliver H. Marston, of Stoneham, is living. 

March 5, 1838, by the Rev. O. F. Willis, James A. 
Mann to Hannah Whitcher, both of Coventry. 

[James A. Mann was the son of Samuel and Mary Howe 
Mann. Hannah Whitcher was the daughter of William and 
Mary Noyes Whitcher. They lived for a time in Newbury, 
Vt., then moved to Woburn, Mass. James A. Mann died 
in March, 1874, and Hannah, his wife, died in August, 
1896. Of their children Moses W. lives in West Medford, 



240 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Mass., Abbie, wife of Kendrick, lives in Michigan, 

and Lucy E. in Woburn, Mass. 

April 28, 1838, by Enos Wells, Justice of the Peace, 
David M. Howe, son of Peter and Mary Powers Howe, to 
Betsey, daughter of Kimball and Sally Streeter Tyler. 
[Thev lived in Benton until about 1856, when they removed 
to Stoneham, Mass., where they resided until their death. 
David M. Howe married 2nd Mrs. Ann Parker, formerly of 
Bath, who still lives in Stoneham. 

Dec. 30, 1840, by James J. Page, Justice of the Peace, 
John Hardy, of Haverhill, to Lucy Tyler, of Coventry. 

Jan. 11, 1846, by Robert Coburn, minister, Russell 
Coburn to Eliza Ann Coburn, both of Benton. 

Mar. 17, 1846, by Robert Coburn, Noah C. Hutchins, of 
Benton, to Hannah Jesseman, of Franconia. [They resided 
in Benton. Noah C. Hutchins died in March 1860. Their 
daughter Eveline married Rev. George E. Brown, then of 
Benton, now of Haverhill. A son, Solomon J. Hutchins, 
resides in Benton. Hannah married 2nd William T. Torsey. 
He died March 6, 1894. She died July 30, 1897.] 

July 10, 1846, by Robert Coburn, minister of the gospel, 
Alfred Webber, of Benton to Mary Ann Webber of New- 
bury, Vt. 

Dec. 17, 1839, by Rev. Harris Johnson, Josiah F. Jef- 
fers to Aseneth, daughter of Abijah Wright. [They lived in 
Benton at High Street until the death of Mr. Jeffers, when 
the widow removed from town to make her home with her 
daughter Marietta, the wife of a Methodist Episcopal clergy- 
man, Rev. James M. Copp. Their son, Samuel G., also 
removed from town about 1870.] 

Feb. 9, 1842, by Rev. John Gould, Daniel D. Page, of 
Benton, to Charlotte A. Baleyn, of Hinsdale. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 241 

Jan. 28, 1847, Charles C. Tyler, son of Kimball and 
Sally Streeter Tyler, to Diana, daughter of Samuel Bishop, 
of Landaff. 

March 7, 1852, by the Rev. D. W. Barber, Nelson F. 
Noyes, of Haverhill, to Hannah, daughter of Israel and 
Polly Flanders, of Benton. [Nelson F. Noyes was the son 
of Moses and Polly Howe Noyes.] 

March 23, 1875, Fred M. Tyler, 23, son of Charles C. 
and Diana Tyler, to Laura E. Keyser, 17, daughter of 
James H. Keyser, both of Benton. 

March 11, 1878, Dennis D. Davis, son of Jeremiah B. 
and Susan Tyler Davis, 29, to Myra S. Leighton, daughter 
of Ephraim and Adaline Cooley, both of Benton. 

May 28, 1878, William VV. Eastman, 28, son of Sylvester 
and Louisa Whitcher Eastman, of Benton, to Georgie A. 
Aldrich, 18, of Haverhill. 

Oct. 15, 1879, Kendrick L. Howe, 23, son of Daniel M. 
and Susan Clough Howe to Allie E. Collins, 15, daughter 
of Charles T. and Sarah Pike Collins, both of Benton. 

Dec. 30, 1881, Frank B. Parker, 25, son of Prescott and 
Maria Parker, of Benton, to Mattie B. Haywood, 18, of 
Haverhill. 

June 3, 1882, Byron M. Tyler, 28, son of Charles C. 
and Diana Bishop Tyler, of Benton, to Rose B. Clark, 26, 
of Haverhill. 

Nov. 21, 1882, John F. Foss, 21, to Lovia B., 21, 
daughter of John and Eliza Brown Flanders, of Benton. 

Aug. 15, 1886, Frank Aikin, 41, to Ann R. Shaw, 35, 
daughter of Lucius Hutchins. 

Jan. 15, 1887, William B. Page, 29, son of Daniel D. 
and Charlotte Page, of Benton, to Hattie E. Warren, 29, 
of Haverhill. 



242 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



Jan. 22, 1888, A. A. Foes, 24, to May Tyler, 19, of 
Benton, daughter of Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler. 

November 23, 1888, Bert E. Buzzel, 20, to Kate S. 
Howe, 18, of Benton, daughter of Daniel M. and Susan 
Clough Howe. 

November 29, 1888, Charles C. Bean, Jr., 20, to Elgie 
M. Flanders, 20, of Benton, daughter of John and Eliza 
Brown Flanders. 

Nov. 29, 1888, George H. Gilman, 27, of Benton, to 
Carrie L. Sawyer, 21, of Haverhill. 

February 9, 1889, Horace R. Spooner, 27, of Benton to 
Blanche A. Humphrey, 18, of Newbury, Vt. 

May 14, 1889, Paul M. Howe, 28, son of Daniel M. and 
Susan Clough Howe, to Anna C. Annis, 33, daughter of 
Samuel C. and Mary Smith Annis, both of Benton. [They 
lived in Benton till about 1895 when they removed to Pike, 
where Mr. Howe has since been in the employ of the Pike 
Manufacturing Co.] 

July 2, 1889, Moses Stone, 31, of Benton, to Eliza 
Paradis, of New Market. 

Dec. 2, 1889, Edward W. Balkam, 77, of Haverhill, to 
Adaline M. Norris, 67, of Benton. [The wife was a 
daughter of Moses C. and Mary Brown Carpenter. She 
married 1st John P. Cox, by whom she had two sons, Ed- 
ward L., deceased, and Birt, now residing in Benton. She 
married 2nd David M. Norris, who died in Benton May 24, 
1889. Mrs. Balkam died in Woodsville, Aug. 5, 1890.] 

Feb. 18, 1890, Freman Thebado, 22, to Exilda Paradis, 
16, both of Benton. 

March 4, 1890, George W. Ingerson, 48, of Benton, to 
Mary E. Whiteman, 35, of Manchester. 

Aug. 27, 1890, Norman C. McLeod, 26, of Benton, to 



CO VENTR Y—BENTOX, X. H. 243 

Kate McLeod, of Whiton, P. Q. 

July 18, 1891, Daniel Spooner, 25, to Nora Bourke, 17, 
both of Benton. 

Dec. 8, 1891, John Wallace, 23, to Myrtie E. Keyser, 18, 
adopted daughter of Charles B. and Mary Davis Keyser, 
both of Benton. 

Dec. 12, 1891, Clarence A. Spooner, 26, to Lilla M. 
Temple, 18, both of Benton. 

May 18, 1891, Nahum W. French, 37, of Haverhill, to 
Lena E. Brooks, 25, daughter of Charles T. and Sarah 
Pike Collins, of Benton. 

Aug. 24, 1893, James Murdock, 37, to Eveline Fackney, 
19, both of Benton. 

Apr. 5, 1894, George Fillion, 22, to Delandra Derosha, 
24, both of Benton. 

Dec. 17, 1895, Willie I. Eastman, 22, to Lulu M. Cox, 
18, daughter of Birt Cox, both of Benton. 

June 30, 1896, Charles P. Collins, 19, son of Charles T. 
and Sarah Pike Collins, to Gracie M. Mann, 19, daughter of 
Orman L. and Ella Haywood Mann, both of Benton. 

Oct. 21, 1896, Arthur C.Delaney, 28, to ElgieM. Bean, 
28, daughter of John and Eliza Brown Flanders. 

Xov. 24, 1896, Stephen H. Dexter, 24, to Estella Tyler, 
18, both of Benton, daughter of Frederick M. and Ella 
Keyser Tyler. 

Sept. 16, 1897, Edgar L. Morse, 38, of Easton, to Kate 
H. Buzzel, 26, of Benton, daughter of Daniel M. and 
Susan Clough Howe. 

Sept. 12, 1897, Clarence Fifield, 23, to Charlina C. 
Tyler, 17, of Benton, daughter of Frederick M. and Ella 
Keyser Tyler. 

Aug. 31, 1898, A. E. Tyler, 44, son of Charles C. and 



2 44 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Diana Bishop Tyler to Isabel Muir, 36, of Bath. 

June 11, 1900, William R. Severance, 22, of Stone- 
ham, Mass., to Edna W. Tyler, 23, of Benton, daughter 
of Frederick M. and Ella Keyser Tyler. 

Nov. 28, 1900, Willis A. Brown, 29, of Bellows Falls, 
Vt., to Jennie F. Veazey, 26, of Benton, daughter of 
Charles and Ruth J. Veazey. 

April 20, 1901, Carroll B. Tyler, 30, son of Charles C. 
and Diana Bishop Tyler, to Veronia D. Tibbetts, 19, 
daughter of De Elden Tibbetts, both of Benton. 

Nov. 16, 1901, Byron M. Tyler, 43, of Benton, son of 
Charles C. and Diana Bishop Tyler, to Helen F. Corwin, 
43, Peterborough. 

Jan. 10, 1902, Alonzo Spooner, 68, of Benton to Marga- 
ret J. Dacey, 39, of Penacook. 

March 28, 1903, Stephen H. R. Marden, 65, of Benton, 
to Emma J. Carden, 47, of Westford, Mass. 

Apr. 20, 1903, Oscar F. Spooner, 26, son of Alonzo 
Spooner, to Eva Moses, 16, both of Benton. 

Births. The record of births is very incomplete in the 
town records, and but little additional information can be 
gleaned from the members of the families still residing in 
the town. Of the early families there are almost no repre- 
sentatives remaining in town, and correspondence with widely 
scattered representatives reveals the fact that there was gross 
carelessness in keeping the family records, and that in 
many instances, such meager records as were kept have been 
lost. There are now widely scattered representatives of 
scores of families, who lived in town prior to 1850, who 
are anxious to learn something concerning their ancestry 
and of the history of their respective families during the early 



GO VENTR Y—BEJSTTON, JST. IT. 245 

life of Coventry, but are unable themselves to furnish any- 
thing beyond unreliable tradition. In connection with the 
meager record of births found in the books of the town clerk 
there is also in some cases a record of the marriage of parents. 
The full record is here given together with such other facts 
as have been obtained by correspondence and inquiry. 

Obadiah Eastman, Esq., b. May, 7, 1747. 
Mehitabel, his wife, born Apr. 27, 1747. 

Jesse, b. Sept. 13, 1769. 

Sarah, b. July 31, 1771. 

James, b. Mar. 12, 1774. 

Obadiah, Jr., b. Oct. 5, 1777. 

Mehitabel, b. Feb. 21, 1780. 

Moses, b. Dec. 21, 1782. 

Ruth, b. July 26, 1785. 

Peter, b. June 3, 1788. 

James, son of Obadiah and Mehitabel Eastman, m. Betsey 
Boynton (b. Oct. 8, 1778), Aug. 28, 1798. 
Jesse, b. July 28, 1799. 
Rosilla, b. Sept. 14, 1803. 
Louisa, b. June 29, 1805. 
Nancy, b. June 13, 1808. 
Sylvester, b. Aug. 3, 1814. 
Betsey, b. Sept. 22, 1816. 
Moses, b. December, 14, 1818. 
[There was also a younger son, James.] 

Sylvester Eastman, son of James and Betsey Boynton 
Eastman, m. Louisa, daughter of William and Mary Noyes 
Whitcher, b. Dec. 22, 1812. 

[Of their three children George E., m. Rebecca Bronson, 



246 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

who with her two daughters resides at No. Haverhill ; Ruth 
J., m. Chas. A. Veazey, and resides in Benton, their two 
children having removed from town, William D. Veazey 
engaging in the practice of law in Laconia, and Mrs. W. A. 
Brown residing in Bellows Falls, Vt. ; William W. m. first 
Georgia A. Aldrich, of Haverhill, 2nd Mrs. Edna Eastman, 
of Easton, and resides in Benton.] 

Phebe Eastman, b. June 9, 1808. 
Caroline Eastman, b. Dec. 3, 1810. 
[They were the daughters of Moses and Eunice Eastman.] 

Children of Peter and Sarah Eastman. 
Asa Eastman, b. Feb. 18, 1810. 
Abigail Eastman, b. Aug. 28, 1812. 
Adaline Eastman, b. June 18, 1814. 

Obadiah Eastman 3rd, b. Nov. 6, 1804. 
Ezra Eastman, b. Nov. 9, 1808. 
Ebeneezer Eastman, b. Aug. 22, 1810. 
Ruth Eastman, b. Sept. 8, 1814. 
[These were children of Jesse Eastman.] 

Jeremiah Jackson, b. Oct. 9, 1783, d. June 12, 1817. 
Ann, his wife, b. May 23, 1783. 

CHILDREN . 

Olive, b. July 27, 1804. 
Artemas, b. April 27, 1806. 
Sarah, b. April 19, 1808. 
Hannah, b. May 8, 1810. 
Mary Ann, b. July 27, 1812. 
James, b. November 9, 1814. 
Betsey, b. April 19, 1817. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 247 

William Coolidge, b. Jan. 28, 1777. 
Mary Hale, his wife, daughter of Major Jonathan Hale, 
born Nov. 23, 1777. Married, May 19, 1800. 

CHILDREN. 

Mary Bridge, b. July 8, 1801. 
William Frederick, b. July 28, 1804. 
Edmund Preble, b. Apr. 29, 1806. 
Jonathan Hale, b. Dec. 17, 1807. 



Salmon Niles, b. March 11, 1768. 
Millie, his wife, b. Apr. 4, 1779. 

CHILDREN. 

Joseph, b. June 28, 1798. 

Ezra, b. Aug, 29, 1799. 

Millie, b. July 27, 1803. 

Sally, b. Mar. 16, 1805. 

Synthia, b. Nov. 4, 1806. 
* Mira, b. Aug. 6, 1807. 

Marenda, b. Sept. 9, 1808. 

Jesse, b. March 8, 1810. 

Salmon, Jr., b. May 14, 1812. 

Levi, b. Jan. 26, 1814. 

Louisa, b. October 9, 1817. 

Mary, b. June, 15, 1820. 

Cyrus, b. December 1823. 
[The family early removed from town, Salmon Niles 
having come from Rumney to Coventry. None of his chil- 
dren remained in town on reaching manhood and woman- 
hood, but they have descendants living in Ohio and Indiana 
filling responsible positions in the social, political and finan- 
cial world.] 



248 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Joseph E. Marston, b. June 20, 1777. 

Ruth, his wife, b. Oct. 12, 1780. 

John Westley Marston, b. Apr. 22, 1804. 

[Whether Joseph E. Marston was a relative of David 
and Jonathan does not appear. Some of the descendants 
of Jonathan think he was an elder brother, but are not 
certain. He remained in town but a short time, living at 
High Street.] 

Peter Howe, Jr., b. September 16, 1787. 

Mary Powers, b. April 13, 1790. Married, November 
22, 1812. 

Sally Howe, b. July 22, 1813. 

[Sally married Streeter, of Lisbon, where she 

lived until her death, and where and in adjoining towns a 
number of her descendants are still living. Other children 
were Phebe M., born Feb. 24, 1815, who married 1st 
Alfred Tyler. One son, Isaac H. Tyler, served during the 
War of the Rebellion in the 11th New Hampshire Vols., and 
at last accounts was living in Wisconsin. She married 
2nd Moses N. Howland, of LandafF, by whom she had 
several children, one son being a successful farmer in Pier- 
mont. David M., born March 9, 1817, married Betsey 
Tyler, lived in Benton and Stoneham, Mass, where both 
died. Moses W. married Laura, daughter of Jacob M. 
White, lived in Benton and Stoneham, Mass., where his 
widow and two sons, Herbert and Harry, still reside.] 

Thais Jackson, b. Feb. 6, 1801. 
Amos Jackson, b. Jan. 9, 1803. 
Moses Jackson, b. Sept. 28, 1805. 
Samuel Jackson, b. Nov. 14, 1807. 
Mehitabel Jackson, b. Mar. 13, 1810. 



00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 249 

CHILDREN OF THOMAS JACKSON. 

Marcus B., b. December 14, 1808. 

Dan Young, b. February 11, 1810. 

William Wilson, b. March 2, 1812. 

Fletcher, b. August 25, 1814. 

Eliza Jackson, b. March 3, 1818. 

Thomas Branch, 

John, 

[These sons and daughter of Thomas Jackson removed to 
Haverhill in early life, the sons becoming leading citizens of 
the town.] 

CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM AND POLLY NORRIS. 

Martha, b. April 2, 1807. 
Betsey, b. March 12, 1811. 
James, b. July 4, 1814. 
David Marston, b. Nov. 5, 1816. 
Merrill, b. Sept. 13, 1820. 
J. Dean, b. 

David Marston, b. September 17, 1779. 
Susannah Bronson his wife, b. July 29, 1777. 
Married, January 23, 1803. 

CHILDREN. 

Mehitabel, b. November 27, 1808. 

Lucy, b. September 7, 1811. 

William Coolidge, b. July 28, 1815. 
[William Coolidge Marston was a prominent citizen of 
Haverhill. One son, Moody C, married a daughter of 
John White, of Wells River, Vt. He rendered honorable 
service in the 11th N. H. vols. He is at present a prosper- 
ous farmer in Bath. He has two children, John G. and 
Clara, wife of Martin W. Howland of Woodsville.] 



250 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Ebenezer Gage Knight son of Jeremiah Knight, 
born November 19, 1829. 

Benjamin R. Davis, b. June 21, 1791. 
Betsey Stuart, his wife, b. December 13, 1791. Married 
December 12, 1811. 

CHILDREN. 

Elias S., b. July 27, 1813. 
Alvan, b, July 3, 1815. 
Betsey, b. October 4, 1817. 
Erastus, b. November 23, 1819. 
Belinda E., b. October 31, 1821. 
Benjamin R., Jr., b. November 11, 1823. 

James Harford and Betsey Hill, married January 13, 
1818. 

CHILDREN. 

Viania, b. July 19, 1818. 
Sylvanus, b. May 16, 1820. 
James Jr., b. Sept. 29, 1822. 
John, b. January 27, 1824. 

James Jeffers, b. August 7, 1823. 

Elvira French, b. August 10, 1822. 

Submit Page, b. Sept. 21. 1822. 

Addison Wyman Eastman, b. April 30, 1823. 

Hugh Matthews, b. November 20, 1750. 
Mary, his wife, b. August 28, 1775. 

CHILDREN. 

Mary Jane, b. February 14, 1803. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 251 

Caroline, b. October 29, 1806. 
Lucinda, b. April 13, 1809. 
David, b. August 14, 1811. 
Hetty, b. April 14, 1816. 
Sophronia, b. October 13, 1819. 
Eliza Swan, b. October 29, 1821. 

Loeza Doty, b. June 15, 1801, d. October 21, 1816. 

William Doty, b. August 2, 1805. 

Curtis Doty, b. July 10, 1807. 

Niles Doty, b. February 14, 1809. 
[Niles Doty lived at East Haverhill until his death at an 
advanced age about 1880. A daughter ot his still resides 
on the homestead farm.] 

Hugh Alexander Rogers, b. May 22, 1819. 

Mary Gould Jeffers, b. August 5, 1821, 

Philena Eastman, b. April 24, 1822. 

Jonathan Welch, b. August 7, 1797. 
Ruth, his wife, b. January 14, 1790. Married, Decem- 
ber 2, 1819. 

CHILDREN. 

Silas Morrill, b. April 23, 1826. 

Bartlett, b. February 10, 1828, d. March 17, 1829. 

Bartlett, b. November 9, 1829. 

CHILDREN OF WIDOW MARY TYLER. 

Lydia, b. February 4, 1826. 
Jesse, b. Oct. 4, 1827. 
Mary Jane, b. May 19, 1829. 



252 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

James Trefren, b. May 28, 1815. 

Orrin Trefren, b. May 24, 1817. 

Amy Trefren, b. May 7, 1819. 

David Marston Trefren, b, February 9, 1822. 

Gilman Trefren, b. March 1, 1824. 

Jesse Eastman 2nd, b. July 28, 1799. 
Sarah, his wife, b. Dec. 29, 1796. Married, August 12, 
1821. 

James Eastman, b. May 12, 1823. 

Mary H. Palmer, b. June 24, 1800. 
Joseph F. Palmer, b. October 7, 1803. 
James Palmer, b. March 24, 1805. 
Sally W. Palmer, b. Apr. 28, 1807. 
Judith G. Palmer, b. August 17, 1809. 

Daniel Doty, b. June 15, 1766. 
Salatha, his wife, b. August 28, 1768. 

CHILDREN. 

Adaniah, b. September 11, 1789, d. July 1, 1813. 
Levi, b. June 15, 1792, d. April 22, 1813. 
Barnabas, b. June 15, 1794, d. Oct. 9, 1798. 
Jesse, b. May 8, 1795, d. June 14, 1795. 
Clarinda, b. April 5, 1798. 

Jacob Currier, b. Nov. 27, 1798. 

Susan Whitcher, b. Dec. 25, 1802. Married, December 
25, 1821. 

CHILDREN. 

Susan W., b. January 1, 1823. 
John W., b. May 7, 1824. 
Patience F., b. November 28, 1825. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 253 

Moses Ci b. January 8, 1829. 
Alonzo, b. Dec. 23, 1830. 

CHILDREN OP JONATHAN AND PHEBE HOWE MARSTON. 

Orrin, b. Jan. 15, 1809. 

Bartlett, b. April 28, 1816. 

Jonathan Hale, b. July 1, 1818. 

Phebe, b. March 7, 1823. 
[Phebe married Gilbert P. Wright. They had a large 
family of children, several residing in Haverhill, while 
others have made homes in other localities. Mrs. Wright 
is still living in Haverhill.] 

James B. Ball, b. Dec. 31, 1797, married Roxana Co- 
burn, May, 1816. 

CHILDREN. 

Mary, b. October 3, 1816. 
Rachel, b. August 3, 1818. 
Lois W., b. December 1, 1821. 
Enos W., b. April 6, 1823. 

[This family removed to East LandafF, now Easton, 
where several descendants of James B. and Roxana Ball 
are still living.] 

Kimball Tyler, b. September 9, 1783. 
Sally Streeter, b. February 28, 1784. 
Married, April 15, 1805. 

CHILDREN. 

Relief, b. November 2, 1805. 
Lucy, b. August 2, 1807, d. May 4, 1812. 
Kimball, b. December 9, 1808. 
[He lived but a little time in Coventry after reaching his 



254 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

majority, but removed to Stoneham, Maes., where he spent 
most of his life.] 

Sally, b. May 27, 1810. [m. Hazen Whitcher]. 

Susan K., b. September 14, 1812. 
[m. Jeremiah B. Davis, by whom she had issue. Wes- 
ley, deceased ; Mary, married Charles B. Keyser, resides in 
Benton; Laban T., resides in Lynn, Mass.; Eliza, m. 
Burton French of* Haverhill ; Kimball T. ; Sally, deceased ; 
Jeremiah B., Jr., resides in Easton ; Constantine, deceased ; 
Dennis D.] 

Edwin, b. August 20, 1814. 

Alfred b. March 13, 1816. 

Betsey, b. March 22, 1818. [m. David M. Howe.] 

Laban, b. January 26, 1820. [Lived for several 
years in Stoneham, Mass., then removed to Michigan.] 

Eliza, b. October 16, 1821. 

Moses K., b. March 14, 1823. [m. daughter of 
Preecott Parker, lived in Stoneham, Mass. and Benton and 
then removed to Michigan.] 

Charles C, b. July 2, 1827. [m. Diana Bishop, 
and lived in Benton till his death at the age of 51.] 

George, b. May 27, 1831. [m. Jane Siddons, 
daughter of William Siddons and lived in Benton, Stone- 
ham, and Lynn, Mass.] 

Lucetta, b. January 9, 1832. [Unmarried and 
resides in Stoneham, Mass.] 

Asa Page Knight, b. August 13, 1827. 

Ezekiel Day, b. January 10, 1819. 
Samuel E. Day, b. January 3, 1821. 
Daniel Day, b. April 28, 1822. 
Abigail G. Day, b. May 30, 1823. 



00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 255 

James Hopkins Cox, b. January 10, 1797. 
Hannah French, b. June 28, 1800. Married, 
March 1, 1821. 

CHILDREN. 

James Albert, b. February 20, 1822. [There were 
two other sons, Thomas F., who lived with his father until 
the family removed from town, and George W., who learned 
the wheelwrights trade, lived at Swiftwater and Haverhill 
for a few years and removed to Manchester.] 

Aaron Knight and Betsey Currier were married, Decem- 
ber 23, 1819. 

CHILDREN. 

Louisa K., b. September 15, 1820. 
Caleb, b. March 5, 1822. 
Moses, b. November 15, 1823. 

Moses Mead, b. August 11, 1800. 
Mary, his wife, b. December, 1797. 

CHILDREN. 

Warren, b. August 20, 1820. 
Emeline, b. January 1 , 1823. 

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND POLLY WELLS FLANDERS. 

John, b. July 9, 1826. [m. Eliza J. daughter of 
John Brown, d. 1904.] 

Mahala, b. July 3, 1828. [married John E. Key- 
ser. Since the the death of her husband in 1896, resides in 
Benton.] 

Lafayette Wells, b. September 18, 1830. [m. 1st, 
Ann Wright, daughter of Russell Wright of Haverhill, 2nd, 
Marietta, daughter of Joseph Hutchins. Removed to 



256 80ME THINGS ABOUT 

Haverhill about 1870, d. 1905.] 

Hannah Goodwin, b. May 6, 1832. [m. 1st, Nel- 
son F. Noyes, 2nd, Dexter. Resides with daughter 

in St. Johnsbury, Vt.] 

CHILDREN OF DAVID AND PHEBE SMITH WHITCHER. 

David Marston, b. June 30, 1831. 

Daniel Batchelder, b. July 6, 1833. 

Joseph, b. 

[These three brothers removed to Meredith and have since 
with their children resided in Meredith and New Hampton.] 

Samuel Coburn Young, son of David Young, Jr., 
b. December 24, 1827. 

Augustus Coburn Young, son of David Young, Jr., 
b. September 16, 1830. 

CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND EL ATA KIMBALL. 

Chauncey, b. June 24, 1831. 
Daniel, b. January 1, 1833. 
Mary, b. Sept. 23, 1834. 

CHILDREN OF ROBERT AND BETSEY TORSEY COBURN. 

Moore Russell, b. July 4, 1824. 

Rosella, b. July 7. 1826. 

Robert Gilman, b. June 28, 1828. 

Betsey Jane, b. September 16, 1830. 

Moses Torsey, b. February 19, 1833. 

Augustus, b. April 1, 1836. 

Josiah Nelson, b. January 11, 1846. 

Chester Hutchins Noyes, son of Jonathan Noyes, b. 
June 12, 1833. 



OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 257 

Nathan Coburn Stow and Nathaniel Howe Stowe, 
sons of John and Sally Stow, b. May 3, 1829. 

[These brothers married sisters, Ruth Weed and Ann 
Weed and removed to Stoneham, Mass.] 

Sarah Stow, daughter of John and Sally Stow, b. 
April 3, 1831. 

CHILDREN OF KINSLEY AND BETSEY BATCHELDER. 

Sally Sanborn, b. February 13, 1832. 
Mary Ann, b. November 15, 1833. 

CHILDREN OF NATHAN AND MARY PARKER COBURN. 

Nathan Parker, b. February 6, 1817. 

Levi Parker, b. May 12, 1819. 

Alonzo, b. October 16, 1821. 

LydiaW., b. July 23, 1823. 

James Fisk, b. November 6, 1825. 

Benjamin Franklin, b. November 13, 1827. 

Mary Jane, b. March 24, 1830, d. Oct. 5, 1832. 

Sally Ann, b. Sept. 20, 1832. 

Daniel Jenness, b. May 15, 1835. 

CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL AND RACHEL COBURN HOWE. 

Nathan Coburn, b. September 7, 1817. 
Stedman Willard, b. Apr. 21, 1822. 
Ira Goodall, b. May 19, 1827. 
Kimball Tyler, b. May 19, 1828. 

CHILDREN OF ENOS AND SALLY CLARK WELLS. 

Caleb, b. Oct. 19, 1826. 

George, b. March 18, 1828. [d. July 29, 1905.] 

Enos C, b. March 20, 1830, [d. August 8, 1905.] 



258 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

William Whitcher, b. Mar. 23, 1783. 
Mary Noyes, b. Nov. 5, 1787. 
Married, February 15, 1807. 

CHILDREN. 

Moses, b. December 26, 1807 ; [see p. 54.] 
William, Jr., b. December 26, 1808, d. Oct. 16, 
1833, [see p. 54.] 

Amos, b. May 18, 1810 ; [see pp. 63-64.] 
Louisa, b. December 22, 1811 ; [m. Sylvester East- 
man,] see p. 245. 

Winthrop Chandler, b. February 20, 1813. 
Samuel, b. August 24, 1814; [see p. 69.] 
Ira, b. December 2, 1815, [see pp. 75-78.] 
Sally, b. May 25, 1817, [see p. 93.] 
Hannah, b. April 4, 1819, [see p. 239.] 
James, b. October 1, 1820, d. Aug. 20, 1837. 
Chase, b. January 20, 1822, [see pp. 84-85.] 
Mary, b. October 28, 1823. 
Susan, b. May 20, 1825, [see p. 59.] 
Daniel, b. January 20, 1827, [see pp. 90-91.] 
David, b. June 17, 1828, [see p. 94.] 
Phebe, b. February 24, 1831, [m. Mosely M. Brooks 
of Franconia, lived in Woburn, Mass., d. June 4, 
1870.] 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 259 

[William Whitcher was a descendant of Thomas Whittier 
— the name formerly pronounced Whit-cher — who came to 
America from "Millchill part of Wiltshire," England, Apr. 
24, 1638. Thomas settled first in Salisbury, Mass., after- 
wards lived for a short time in Newbury, Mass., where he 
married Ruth Green, and shortly afterwards removed to 
Haverhill, Mass., where he was prominent in the early his- 
tory of that town. He died in Haverhill, November 28, 
1696. 

CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND RUTH GREEN WHITTIER. 

Mary, b. August 9, 1647. 
John, b. December 23, 1649. 
Ruth, b. August 1, 1651. 
Thomas, b. June 12, 1653. 
Susanna, b. March 27, 1656. 
Nathaniel, b. August 11, 1658. 
Hannah, b. September 10, 1660. 
Richard, b. June 27, 1663. 
Elizabeth, b. November 21, 1666. 
Joseph, b. May 8, 1669. 

Nathaniel, son of Thomas and Ruth Green Whittier, m. 
August 26, 1685, Mary, daughter of William Osgood, of 
Salisbury, Mass. They resided in Salisbury, Mass. 

CHILDREN. 

Reuben, b May 17, 1686. 
Ruth, b. October, 14, 1688. 

Reuben, son of Nathaniel and Mary Osgood Whittier, m. 
December 19, 1708, Deborah Pillsbury, of Newbury, Mass. 
They resided in Salisbury, Mass. 



260 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

CHILDREN. 

Mary, b. September 25, 1709. 
Nathaniel, b. August 12, 1711. 
William, b. November 20, 1714. 

Reuben, b. 1716. 

Richard, b. 1717. 

Joseph, b. May 2, 1721. 
Benjamin, b. May 4, 1722. 

Joseph, son of Reuben and Deborah Pillsbury Whittier, 
m. January 13, 1743, Martha, daughter of John Evans, of 
Nottingham, N. H. They also resided in Salisbury, Mass. 

CHILDREN. 

Deborah, b. September 4, 1744. 

Dorothy, b. November 30, 1745. 

Sarah, b. September 18, 1747. 

John, b. June 19, 1749. 

Reuben, b. September 19, 1751. 

Chase, b. October 6, 1753. 

Joseph, b. October 31, 1755. 
John, Chase and Joseph were among the first settlers of 
Warren, N. H., and spelled their names according to pro- 
nunciation — Whitcher — this spelling being retained by the 
descendants of John and Chase. 

Chase Whitcher, son of Joseph and Martha Evans Whit- 
tier, m. July 6, 1777, Hannah Morrill, of Amesbury, Mass. 
They resided in Warren. 

CHILDREN. 

Levi, b. September 22, 1779, died in infancy. 
Dolly, b. January 22, 1781, m. John Atwell. 
William, b, May 23, 1783. 



GO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 261 

Molly, b. April 16, 1785, died unmarried. 
Chase, b. Sept. 5, 1787. 

Levi 2d, b. August 31, 1789, died unmarried. 
Jacob, b. June 22, 1791. 

Miriam, b. March 18, 1794, m. Joseph Davis Wil- 
loughby, of Holderness. 

Martha, b. July 18, 1798, m. Elisha Fullam. 
David, b. January 15, 1803. 

The four sons of Chase and Hannah Morrill Whitcher 
were among the first settlers of Benton, as has already been 
noted, and his daughters, Dolly and Martha, also lived for 
some years in town. 

David m. Phebe P. Smith, March 20, 1828. Their eldest 
son, Joseph, was born August 25, 1829. (For this family 
see p. 256.) 

Jacob married Sarah Richardson, of Warren, and moved 
to Coventry where he died in 1834. Their children were all 
born in Coventry and were : 

Levi, b. October 29, 1815, (see p. 78.) 

Hazen, b. May 21, 1817, (see p. 82.) 

Stephen, b. June 18, 1819. 

Alonzo, b. June 8, 1821. 

Lorinda, b. August 3, 1825. 

Jacob, b. June 8, 1827. 

Sarah Jane, b. Aug. 31, 1830. 

The sixteen children of William and Mary Noyes Whit- 
cher were all born in Benton and, as has already been noted, 
most of them settled in town, becoming important factors in 
its life. 

Amos Whitcher ra. Polly Young, of Lisbon, December 
24,1835. (Seep. 63.) 



262 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

CHILDREN. 

Lucinda C, b. October 7, 1836, m. Horace W. Gor- 
don, d. October 27, 1871. 

Amarett A., b. June 23, 1840, m. Emery B. White. 

Charles H., b. February 10, 1843, deceased. 

Winthrop C, b., March 22, 1845. 

James E., b. November 29, 1847, deceased. 

Florence V., b. May 3, 1852, m. December 4, 1878, 
William C. Young. 

Albion G., b. August 28, 1854. 

Winthrop Chandler Whitcher, son of William and Mary 
Noyes, m. Mrs. Mary Priest Noyes, the widow of Samuel 
Noyes, Jr., of Landaff, where he resided until his death, 
leaving four children, Moses, Ward P., Henry and Sarah. 
Moses was twice married, residing in Landaff until shortly 
before his death in May, 1902, when he removed to Lisbon. 
He left two daughters, one, Pheeb, the wife of Daniel J. 
Whitcher, of Easton, and Jean, a teacher in the schools of 
Quincy, Mass. Ward P. m. Pheeb Perkins, of New Hamp- 
ton, and lived at Tilton and later at Lisbon where he was 
engaged in the insurance and drug business until his death 
in 1896. He left two sons, Frank P., who resides in Wash- 
ington, and Chase R., a successful architect in Lisbon. 
Henry is a prosperous farmer in Landaff. His sons, Charles 
C. and John W., have been extensively engaged in the lum- 
ber business. One daughter, Mrs. H. E. Heath, resides in 
Ponema, and another, Mercy, with her parents. Sarah 
married La Fayette McConnell and resides in Landaff, 

Mary, daughter of William and Mary Noyes Whitcher, 
m. June 1, 1841, Jason Titus of Lyman, residing in that 
town for many years when they removed to Lisbon where 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 263 

they lived during the remainder of their lives, celebrating 
their golden wedding anniversary in 1891 . Of their children, 
Charles H., Holman D., Theron W., Fred M. and Bertha 
May are living, and Herman P. and George W. are 
deceased.] 



CHILDREN OF BARLTETT AND ANNA BROWN MARSTON. 

Laura A., b. June 20, 1840, married George Wilson. 

Wesley B., b. October 24, 1841, [deceased.] 

Sarah L., b. May 18, 1844, [deceased.] 

George W., b. Aug. 14, 1846, [deceased.] 

Rhoda J., b. June 26, 1848, m. C. C. Hildreth. 

Henry G., b. March 27, 1851. 

Elvah S., b. May 3, 1853, m. A. A. Clement. 

Lucy M., b. April 7, 1855, m. George Sargent. 

Hosea M., b. Feb. 2, 1858, [deceased.] 

May B., b. March 6, 1860, [deceased.] 

Luvia E., b. April 13, 1863, m. C. W. Sawyer. 

Peter Howe 2d, b. July 4, 1814. Harriett W. Tyler, his 
wife, b. April 4, 1814, m. October 24, 1837. 

CHILDREN. 

Rufue W., b. June 16, 1839. 
Harriet Ellen, b. December 22. 1844. 



284 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Lucena M., b. June 10, 1846. 

Samuel Whitcher m. May 4, 1840, Emily Quimby, of 
Lisbon. 

CHILDREN. 

Lydia E., b. June 22, 1841, m. William H. Polley. 
Betsey S., b. February 5, 1844, m. William Kendall. 
David S., b. November 30, 1846, [deceased.] 
Daniel J., b. February 2, 1849. 
Charles O., b. November 21, 1852. 
Susan E., b. April 20, 1859, [deceased.] 

CHILDREN OF JAMES J. AND FANNY MEAD PAGE. 

Lavinia Farnham Mead, b. August 13, 1826. 
Eliza Ann, b. October 20, 1828. 
Laura Ann Whittaker, b. September 28, 1831. 
James, b. February 10, 1834. 

Elizabeth R., b. 

Mary, b. 

CHILDREN OF IRA AND LUCY ROYCE WHITCHER. 

William F., b. August 10, 1845. 

Mary E., b. July 17, 1847, (deceased.) 

Frank, b. June 21, 1849, (deceased.) 

Scott, b. Nov. 2, 1852, (deceased.) 
William F. m. let, December 4, 1872, Jeanette M., 
daughter of Dr. Ellsworth Burr, of Middletown Conn. She 
died in Maiden, Mass., Sept. 30, 1894. Their son, Burr 
Royce, b. New Bedford, Mass., November 6, 1878, gradu- 
ated Dartmouth college 1902, Dartmouth Medical 1905, is 
house physician St. Luke's hospital, New Bedford, Mass. 
William F. m. 2d, November 4, 1896, Marietta A. Hadley, 
of Stoneham, Mass.] 



00 VENTR Y— BENTON, N B. 265 

John Brown, b. November 22, 1784, son of Caleb Brown 
of Bristol. Olive Colby, b. January 16, 1793, daughter of 
John Colby, in. January 7, 1813. 

CHILDREN. 

Jonas G., b. December 17, 1814, m. Angeline 
Whiteman. 

Sally, b. October 13, 1815, m. Benjamin Cilley, of 
Andover. 

John C, b. September 21, 1817, m. Louisa Carter, 
of Portland, Me. 

Mary, b. February 8, 1820, m. Benjamin Cilley, of 
Andover. 

Susan, b. March 17, 1822, m. Joseph Hutchins. 

Jesse M., b. March 4, 1824, m. Emma Van Ant- 
werp, Michigan. 

Abigail S., b. February 28, 1827. 

Eliza J., b. April 15, 1830, m. John Flanders. 

Daniel W., b. April 18, 1833, d. June 28, 1859. 

Julia Ann, b. April 18, 1835, m. Elisha Hibbard. 

Jonas G. Brown, b. December 17, 1814, m. January 
1838, Angeline Whiteman, b. October 5, 1814. 

CHILDREN. 

Marium M., b. December 23, 1838, m. Chester C. 
Clough, deceased. 

George E., b. May 31, 1841, m. Eveline Hutchins. 

Olive, b. September 1842, d. Auguet 1843. 

Clara A., b. July 8, 1847, m. November 1865, W. 
W. Coburn, deceased. 

Cyrenia M., b. May 1, 1850, m. 1869 Ransom 
Coburn. 



266 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Imogene, b. September 2, 1853, m. March 17, 1880, 
C. W. Cummings. 

CHILDREN OF GEORGE E. AND EVELINE HUTCHINS BROWN. 

Jonas N., b. September 25, 1864, m. Emma Ban- 
croft, January 8, 1888. 

Allen M., b. April 13, 1867, m. Elizabeth Titus, 
April 10, 1889. 

Abbie F., b. June 29, 1869, d. July 28, 1879. 

Marium M., b. October 9, 1871. 

C. Ida, b. March 10, 1874. 

Josie L., b. September 27, 1876. 

Grace Edith, b. March 31, 1881. 

Joseph Hutchins, m. November 17, 1839, Susan Brown 
Emerson, daughter of John and Olive Brown. 

CHILDREN. 

Marietta, b. October 22, 1840, m. L. W. Flanders. 
Ella A., b. February 24, 1843, m. Frank Wilmot. 
Jane B., b. November 18, 1846, m. Moses Clough. 
Sally Ann, b. October 22, 1848, m. Moses P. Bemis. 
Charles A., b. September 4, 1853, m, Emma Hardin. 

Jeremiah B. Davis, b. May 7, 1803, d. June 28, 1884; 
Susan Tyler, b. September 14, 1811, d. January 29, 
1891 ; married June 1831. 

CHILDREN. 

Wesley B., b. August 27, 1832. 

Mary A., b. March 17, 1834, m. Chas. B. Kezer. 

Eliza C, March 4, 1836, m. Burton French, deceased. 

Laban T., b. August 22, 1838. 

Kimball T., b. September 5, 1841. 

Jeremiah B., Jr., b. May 30, 1844. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N IT. 267 

Sarah W., b. October 26, 1846, deceased. 
Dennis D., b. March 8, 1849. 
George C, b. July 4, 1850, deceased. 

Jonathan Hunkins m. Betsey Smith October 17, 1*826. 

CHILDREN. 

Joseph Smith, b. April 21, 1828. 

Harvey Augustus, b. April 29, 1830. 

Thomas Hewes, b. August 17, 1832, d. June 1, 1834. 

Thomas Hewes, b. August 3, 1834. 

Olive Ann, b. May 30, 1837, m. James Page. 

Clarissa Jane, b. July 7, 1840. 

William Keyser, b. Cabot, Vt., January 5, 1797; Abi- 
gail Eastman, b. Concord, N. H., July 27, 1795 ; m. 1819. 

CHILDREN. 

Mary J., b. August 1, 1820, Northfield, N. H. 
John E., b. August 17, 1822, Northfield. 
Henry Eastman, b. July 3, 1824, Northfield. 
Charles B., b. January 12, 1826, Northfield. 
Laura, b. April 9, 1828, Coventry. 
James H., b. September 25, 1830, Coventry. 

CHILDREN OF GEORGE W. AND SUSAN WHITCHER MANN. 

Ezra B., b. November 2, 1843. 

Edward F., b. September 7, 1845. 

George Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1848. 

Orman L. ) b December lg 1852 
(Jsman C 3 

George W. Mann m. 2d, Sarah, daughter of Gad 

Bisbee, February 1855. 

CHILDREN. 

Melvin J., b. March 8, 1856. 



268 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

HoseaB., b. May 27, 1858. 
Susan M., b. January 3, 1860. 
Minnie S., b. December 4, 1862. 
Moses B., b. January 20, 1865. 

CHILDREN OF CHARLES C. AND DIANA BISHOP TYLER. 

Lucetta S., b. April 15, 1848, m. An:os M. Pike. 

Charles W., b. October 28, 1849. 

Frederick M., b. July 17. 1851. 

Alfred Elmore, b. April 7, 1853. 

Hannah W., b. June 26, 1855. 

Byron M., b. August 12, 1858. 

Susan M., b. February 22, 1860, deceased. 

Dexter E., b. November 12, 1862, deceased. 

Leslie G., b. November 30, 1864. 

May, b. May 30, 1867. 

Carrol B., b. June 3, 1869. 

CHILDREN OF DANIEL AND NANCY KNIGHT WHITCHER. 

Kate K., b. May 16, 1853, [deceased.] 

Moses K., b. November 28, 1855, d. April 9, 1862. 

Nellie G., b. October 22, 1857, m. John Gauss, of 
Salem, Mass. 

Lizzie R., b. July 16, 1859. 

Carrie Ardelle, b. July 6, 1861. 

Josie L., b. April 8, 1863. 

Ira D., b. October 4, 1865, d. February 14, 1867. 

Mary B. B., b. February 10, 1869, [m. William V. 
Ashley.] 

Dan Scott, b. November 22, 1873, d. May 17, 1878. 

William Sidney, son of John E. and Mahala Flan- 
ders Keyser, b. October 5, 1850. 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N H. 269 

CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND MERAB ROYCE HOWE. 

Sarah R., b. October 20, 1837 ; m. 1st Parker Swa- 
sey, Cabot, Vt., killed in Battle ot Wilderness ; 2d Truman 
W. Gray, Cambridge, Mass. 

Julia, b. February, 1839, d. 1898 ; m. 1st Rev. H. 
S. Norris; 2d Rev. Fred D. Chandler. 

Luthera L., b. 1840, d. 1877; m. 1st Henry C. 
Wilmot ; 2d Paul N. Meader. 

Phebe A., b. 1843, d. 1903, m. Paul N. Meader. 

Dorcas, b. January 31, 1845, m. Pardon W. Allen. 

Fred S., b. December 1847, m. Mary Atkinson. 

Royal R., b. 1849, d. 1851. 

Halsey R., b. 1851, d. April 1904; m. 1st Martha 
Foster, of Bath, 2d Lilla Bisbee. 

CHILDREN OF PARDON W. AND DORCAS HOWE ALLEN. 

Guy L., b. 1866, d. 1868. 
Linwood H., b. 1871, d. 1894. 
Effie E., b. 1874. 
Ward W., b. June 23, 1877. 
Frank W., b. July 9, 1879, d. 1881. 

CHILDREN OF FRED M. AND LAURA KEYSER TYLER. 

Edna W., b. September 13 1876. 
Stella C, b. February 22, 1878. 
Charlena C, b. September 20, 1879. 

Le otE F ;i b - Feb ™^ U ' 1881 - 

Prescott Parker, Jr., b. November 30, 1821; Maria 
Fitzpatrick, b., November 9, 1832 ; married November 17, 
1854. 



270 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

CHILDREN. 

Lebina H., b. November 18, 1855. 
Frank B. b. August 29, 1857. 
Dora A., b. August 19, 1859. 

CHILDREN OF DANIEL M. AND SUSAN CLOUGH HOWE. 

Kendrick L., b. March 12, 1856. 
PaulM., b. July 1, 1860. 
Sam, b. July 20, 1866. 
Kate S., b. November 20, 1870. 

William T. Torsey and Irene W., daughter of Jonathan 
Batchelder Davis, m. April 21, 1852. 

CHILDREN. 

Emerline S., b. November 12, 1854. 
Amos G., b. April 21, 1861, deceased. 

CHILDREN OF SAMUEL C. AND MARY SMITH ANNIS. 

George W., b. June 23, 1847. 
Mary Jane, b. September 22, 1849, deceased. 
John S., b. August 12, 1851, deceased. 
MiloH., b. May 16, 1853. 
Anna, b. May 10, 1856. 
Alonzo, b. July 5, 1858, deceased. 
Carrie, b. November 16, 1861, m. Martin L. Mitch- 
ell, of Belfast, Me. 

Milo H. Annis and Emerline S., daughter of William T. 
and Irene W. Davis Torsey, m. December 26, 1874. 

CHILDREN. 

Ella Carrie, b. October 28, 1890, d. August 24, 1891. 
Emma, b. October 10, 1896. 
Darius K. Davis, m. Susan E., daughter of Daniel and 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 271 

Phebe Eaton Howe, 1853. 

CHILDREN. 

Addie, Dariah, b. November 12, 1854, m. O. D. 
Eastman, M. D. 

James Page m. Olive Ann Hunkins June 4, 1863. 

CHILDREN. 

Ella Misselle, b. September 12, 1864, m. Frank H. 
Pope. 

Norman J., b. November 13, 1866. 
Ernest Tilden, b. May 18, 1876. 

CHILDREN OF NOAH C. AND HANNAH JESSEMAN HUTCHINS. 

Eveline, b. June 4, 1847, m. George E. Brown, Sep- 
tember 9, 1863. 

Salmon J., b. October 13, 1849, m. Jennie, daugh- 
ter of William Hardin. 

Caleb Wells, b. October 29, 1826; m. 1st, November 
11, 1849, Martha H., daughter of Sylvester Gordon, b. 
September 11, 1828, d. February 21, 1871; m. 2d Lucy 
Ann, daughter of Slysvester Gordon, b. January 22, 1827, 
d. December 20, 1899. 

CHILDREN. 

Helen A., b. June 10, 1849, m., September 7, 
1871, George C. Clifford, d. November 8, 1897. 

Ella G., b. November 11, 1857, m., November 11, 
1877, Edwin U. Hamlett. 

Herbert E., b. November 10, 1861, m., November 19, 
1882, Ida A. McGinnen ; d. May 8, 1899. 

Scott, b. October 29, 1865; m., January 6, 1898, 
Belle M. Hadlock. 

Addie Bell, b. September 11, 1867, d. January 5, 
1869. 



272 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

George Wells, b. Benton, March 18, 1828, d. July 29, 
1905. Caroline Morse, b. Haverhill, May 24, 1830, d. 
May 8, 1905, m. October 14, 1849. 

CHILDREN. 

Albinus, M., b. July 17, 1850. 
Stella E,, b. July 6, 1854. 
Flavius M., b. November 20, 1860. 
Frank E., b. February 16, 1863. 
Arthur G., b. September 29, 1867. 
Fred P., b. August 31, 1870. 

Fred P., son of Edward L. and Emma L. Cox, b. No- 
vember 9, 1880. 

Charles, son of Jeremiah B., Jr., and Melissa Davis, b. 
September 12, 1881. 

Scott, son of Dennis and Myra Cooley Davis, b. March 
24, 1881. 

Ernest P., son of Edward E. and Emma C. Humphrey, 
b. July 12, 1881. 

Nettie J., daughter of Edward M. and Josephine True, 
b. August 17, 1881. 

Georgie E., daughter of Sylvester and Emma Wheeler, 
b. September 30, 1881. 

William II., son of Edward and Victoria Gilman, b. Sep- 
tember 14, 1881. 

Fennette, daughter of Charles and Anna Shaw, b. June 
13, 1866. 

Lillian B., daughter of Benjamin and Mary Gilchrist, b. 
June 1, 1886. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 273 

Alexander, eon of George and Rebecca Wilson, b. No- 
vember 13, 1886. 

Carrie M., daughter of J. F. and Luvia B. Foss, b. Au- 
gust 2, 1887. 

Frank P., son of Gardner and Annie Hurlburt, b. Au- 
gust 3, 1887. 

Horace F., son of David F. and Lillian Richardson, b. 
October 7, 1887. 

Harold, son of David F. and Lillian Richardson, b. March 

28, 1889. 

Herbert C, son of Lewis E. and Gertrude French, b. 
January 9, 1890. 

Ray M., son of William Sims and Minnie Sarah Nutter, 
b. August 31, 1890. 

George, son of Murdock and Mary McLeod, b. March 
20, 1891. 

Edith C, daughter of Sam and Cora White Howe, b. 
June 20, 1891. 

Lester, son of Fred E. and Delia E. Whiteman, b. July 
23, 1891. 

Karl Gile, son of Horace R. and Blanche Spooner, b. 
August 31, 1891. 

Robert'F., son of Harry H. and Nora B. Elliott, b. April 
25, 1892. 

DEATHS. 

Obadiah Eastman, Esquire, January 10, 1812. 
Samuel Jackson, January 29, 1813. 



274 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Elizabeth Eastman, January 30, 1813. 

Moses Eastman, March 6, 1813. 

Jeese Tyler, April 5, 1813. 

Lucy, daughter of Kimball Tyler, May 4, 1813. 

Asa, son of Peter Eastman, August 14, 1814. 

Abigail, daughter of Peter Eastman, May 20, 1813. 

Ruth, wife of Obadiah Eastman, October 12, 1814. 

Ebenezer Eastman, March 3, 1813. 

Jeremiah Jackson, June 12, 1817. 

The town records down to the year 1881 are barren of 
necrology, except the few foregoing records which appear in 
the earliest book. Those recorded since and including 1881 
are as follows : 

Mrs. Philena Hutchins, June 18, 1881, ae. 93. 

George Henry Stowe, son of William C. and Eunice 
Brooks Stowe, December 29, 1881, ae. 31. 

Mary L., wife of Jeremiah B. Davis, Jr., August 12, 
1881, ae. 26. 

Allie A., wife of Kendrick L. Howe, February 28, 1882, 
ae. 17. 

George E. Shaw, April 16, 1885, ae. 44. 

Nelson B. Lindsay, December 13, 1886, ae. 62. 

Lyman Bemis, Jr., January 1887, ae. 47. 

Matilda K. Lindsay, April 4, 1887, ae. 61. 

Lucius Hutchins, September 18, 1887, ae. 77. 

Israel Flanders, December 10, 1887, ae. 87. 



OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 275 

Martha Norris, October 6, 1888, ae. 82. 

Merab, wife of Samuel Howe, November 24, 1888, ae. 76. 

Jane King, May 12, 1889, ae. 63. 

David M. Norris, May 24, 1889, ae. 74. 

Herbert, eon of Halsey R. Howe, December 17, 1889, 
ae. 11. 

Mary J., wife of Alonzo Spooner, December 29, 1889, 
ae. 49. 

James Norris, December 27, 1890, ae. 77. 

Susan K., wife of Jeremiah B. Davis, January 29, 1891, 
ae. 79. 

John O. Keyser, February 14, 1891, ae. 69. 

John Wilson, May 4, 1891, ae. 79. 

Georgie A., wife of William W. Eastman, April 19, 
1892, ae. 31. 

Phebe M. Gilman, June 2, 1892, ae. 51. 

Mary F., wife of Samuel C. Annis, August 27, 1892, ae. 
67. 

Alantha, wife of Spafford W. Cowan, November 24, 
1892, ae. 73. 

Eliza L. Keyser, June 22, 1893, ae. 78. 

Laura E., wife of F. M. Tyler, October 16, 1893, ae. 36. 

William T. Torsey, March 6, 1894, ae. 65. 

Polly, wife of Israel Flanders, July ,27, 1894, ae. 96. 

Sally Bailey, wife of Samuel A. Mann, April 20, 1895, 
ae. 85. 



276 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Alden Cooley, March 26, 1896, ae. 75. 
John E. Keyser, January 7, 1896, ae. 73. 
William Hardin, December 10, 1896, ae. 85. 

Hannah Torsey, wife of William T. Torsey, July 30, 
1897, ae. 73. 

Carrie S., wife of Byron M. Tyler, August 20, 1897, ae. 
37. 

William H. Annis, December 30, 1897, ae. 65. 

Preecott Parker, June 13, 1898, ae. 76. 

Samuel C. Annis, March 15, 1899, ae. 83. 

Samuel Howe, February 13, 1899, ae. 86. 

Charles T. Collins, May 10, 1899, ae. 68. 

Myrtie E., wife of John Wallace, February 26, 1900, ae. 
26. 

Charles B. Keyser, March 24, 1900, ae. 74. 

Susan E., wife of George H. Clark, April 26, 1900, ae. 
41. 

George W. Mann, January 6, 1901, ae. 79. 

Ann R. Hutchins, February 9, 1901, ae. 84. 

Lydia A. Merrill, February 11, 1901, ae. 64. 

John C. Speed, March 13, 1901 , ae. 64. 

John S. Annis, May 16, 1903, ae. 50. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 277 



CHAPTER XII. 

A FUTURE SUMMER RESORT. 

It is a little difficult to explain why Benton has never be- 
come a summer resort town. It certainly has every natural 
advantage. It is a mountain town, Moosilauke, Black, 
Sugar Loaf and Owls Head, or Blueberry mountains cover- 
ing nearly its entire territory. The view from 
Moosilauke is one in which the combination ot beauty and 
grandeur is unrivaled in the entire mountain region of New 
Hampshire. A small hotel was erected on its summit in 
1860, which has since been enlarged, and in most seasons is 
well patronized, but the great mass of tourists pass it by, 
continuing their journey to the White and Franconia moun- 
tain region. The summit is a little difficult of access, theie 
being but one carriage road, that leading from Warren, 
with foot paths and bridle paths from North Woodstock and 
North Benton. Moosilauke, gem of the mountain region, 
will sometime, however, come into its own and its glories 
will have the wide recognition they so richly merit. Within 
the last three years Mr. L. H. Parker has erected a commo- 
dious hotel near the base of the mountain on the North Ben- 
ton side which is already attracting deserved attention and 
patronage, and which can hardly fail to become a popular 
resort. But the charm of Benton scenery lies along the road 
which skirts the northern edge of the town. This road over- 
looks the picturesque valley of the Wild Ammonoosuc and 
for a distance of five miles gives views of Moosilauke, the 
Kinsman range in Easton, with Lafayette rising in the dis- 



278 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

tance beyond, views that for rare beauty rival any to be 
found in the state. Bethlehem, Whitefield, Jefferson, Jack- 
son, Sugar Hill and Franconia have been discovered and 
their discovery utilized. Benton awaits its discoverer. He 
is coming, and the farms of North Benton which have not as 
yet grown up to forest will in the not distant future become 
the summer homes of statesmen, diplomats, financiers, au- 
thors, artists, poets and divines. Why not? The town has 
every natural advantage of elevation, scenic grandeur and 
beauty, and location. It has a magnificent destiny. 

The view from the summit of Moosilauke must be seen to 
be appreciated. It surpasses that obtained from any other 
New England peak, since its 5000 feet of elevation is to a 
large extent isolated, with no nearby neighbors of like ele- 
vation to make the prospect a great billowy sea of mountains 
like that seen from the summit of Mount Washington. 
There is a beauty in the broad flat area of the summit at first 
sight seeming so desolate and barren, which attracts when one 
comes to give it a little attention. In the summer sunlight it 
is green with mosses and lichens, thirty kinds of mosses, while 
harebells and mountain cranberries with their million of flowers 
make it seem like a garden with a green border of firs and 
spruces and birches below. And then, except for the sing- 
ing of the purple finches, snow birds and the mountain 
whistler, which are now and then heard on a summer day — 
the splendid silence. During a period of a quarter of a 
century there were few more frequent visitors to the summit 
of Moosilauke than William Little, the historion of Warren. 
None have ever studied with more painstaking care the pano- 
rama of scenic beauty spread out on every hand, and none 
ever more thoroughly appreciated it. Take this, his descrip- 
tion of a sunset view : 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 279 

The 6un is going down, and it is cold you say. Let us travel 
with our eyes around the whole horizon. 

Look over to the south first. How the ruby light is gleaming on 
Lake Winnepisseogee, "The Smile of the Great Spirit;" see that 
tall shaft just on the horizon beyond. It is Bunker Hill monument 
standing "down by the sea." Carry your eye round to the west: 
Mt. Belknap is first, then Wachusett in Massachusetts, the Unca- 
noonucks, and to the right of them, Jo English, Kearsage, Mt. 
Cardigan, Monadnock, and Croydon mountains. Close by is Water, 
nomee, Cushman, Kineo, Mount Carr, Stinson mountain in Rum- 
ney, Smart's mountain in Dorchester, Mt. Cube in Orford, Sentinel 
mountain in Warren, and Piermont mountain. 

Across the Connecticut river to the southwest is Ascutney, and 
beyond it, further down, is Saddle mountain, Graylock, and Berk- 
shire hills, in Massachusetts. Then wheeling round towards the 
north are Killington peaks, sharp and needle like, shooting up 
above the neighboring hills; farther north and directly west, is 
Camel's Hump, unmistakable in its appearance; then Mt. Mans- 
field, towering above the thousand other summits of the Green 
mountains. 

Above and beyond them, in the farthest distance, are counted 
nine sharp peaks of the Adirondacks in New York, Mt. Marcy 
higher than all the rest. To-morrow morning at sunrise you will 
see the fog floating up from Lake Champlain this side of them. 

In the northwest is Jay peak on Canada line, and to the right of 
it you see a hundred summits rising from the table lands of Canada. 
Then there is the notch at Memphremagog lake, Owl's head by 
Willoughby lake, and Monadnock in northern Vermont. 

Close down is Black mountain, Owl's head of New Hampshire, 
and Blueberry, Hogback and Sugarloaf mountains in Benton. Then 
north is Cobble hill in Landaff; Gardner mountain in Bath and 
Lyman, and Stark Peaks away up in northern Coos. 

To the right, and stretching away in the northeast in Maine, you 
see a long rolling range of hills, the water-shed between the At- 
lantic ocean and the St. Lawrence river, said by Agassiz to be the 
oldest land in the world. East of these is the white summit of the 
Aziscoos, by TJmbagog lake. 

Nearest and to the north-east is Mt. Kinsman, the Profile moun- 
tain; and above and over them Mt. Lafayette, its sides scarred and 
jagged where a hundred torrents pour down in spring, its peaks 
splintered by lightning. South of this and near by, are the Hay- 



280 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

stacks. Over and beyond the latter are the Twins, more than five 
thousand feet high ; and just to the right of them Mt. Washington, 
dome shaped and higher than all fhe re6t. Around this monarch 
of mountains, as if attendant upon him, are Mts. Adams and Jef- 
ferson, sharp peaks on the left, and Mt. Moriah, the Imp, Mt. Mad- 
ison and Monroe, Mt Webster, the Willey Notch precipice, Double 
head, and a hundred other great mountains standing to the right 
and front. 

A little to the south is Carrigan, 4,800 feet high, black and 
sombre, most attractive and most dreaded, not a white spot nor a 
scar upon it; covered with dark woods like a black pall, symetrical 
and beautiful, the eye turns away to return to it again and again. 
Mt. Pigwacket in Conway, its neighbor, always seem gray in the 
hazy distance, Chocorua rises farther south, and Welch mountain, 
Osceola, Whiteface, Ossipee, Agmenticus, on the sea coast; Mt. 
Prospect and Red hill fill up the circle. 

This view to the north and east is the most magnificent mountain 
view to be had on this side of the continent. The most indifferent 
observer cannot look upon it without feeling its grandeur and 
sublimity. 

Forty ponds and lakes are sparkling under the setting sun. Two 
in Woodstock, the little tarn in the meadow where the Asquam- 
chumake rises; Stinson pond in Rumney, Lake Winnepisseogee, 
Winnesquam, Long bay, Smith's pond, Squam lake, Mascoma lake, 
two ponds in Dorchester, Baker ponds in Orford, Indian pond, 
Fairlee Pond, and numerous others in Vermont; Tarleton lakes, 
Wachipauka pond, by which Rogers and his rangers camped, Kel- 
ley, and Horse-shoe ponds; two others in Haverhill, Beaver mead- 
ow ponds in Benton, and many more with names unknown ; how 
they all gleam and glisten, and look like silvery sheens. 

The Pemigewassett, the Asquamchumake, the Ammonoosuc, and 
the Connecticut, from their wooded valleys are flashing in the 
setting sun. 

The villages with their church spires are gleaming. See Brad- 
ford, Haverhill Corner, East and North Haverhill, Newbury, Woods- 
ville and Wells River, down there in the Connecticut valley. A 
hundred spires are shining on the hills of Vermont. Landaff and 
Bath are lighted up, and Warren, Wentworth, Campton, Franco- 
nia, Lake Village, and Laconia all come distinctly out as the sun 
goes down. 

Now see the sun just touching the Adirondacks beyond Lake 




Tip Top House, Mount Moosilauke. 




Parker House, Base of Moosilauke on Tunnel Stream. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. B. 281 

Champlain in the west. There is a rosy blush on the White moun- 
tains, the Green mountains are golden, while all the peaks behind 
which the sun is going down are bathed in a sea of glorious light. 
How it changes! Darkness creeps over the eastern peaks, the 
Green mountains are going into shadows, the vermillion, pink, 
ruby, and gold of the Adirondacks, is fading away, and the stars 
are coming out. 

But look! there is a silver line on the eastern horizon. 'Tis the 
moon rising. But Luna don't come from behind the hills. Her 
upper limb as she creeps up is distant twice her diameter from the 
land horizon. That bright band twixt moon and earth is the 
ocean. It is a sight seldom seen from New Hampshire's moun- 
tains. 

The view is the grand thing of Moosehillock. But if it should 
happen to be cloudy, as is frequently the case, there is much of 
interest about the top of the mountain. Garnets an inch in diam- 
eter, with perfect faces are found by the carriage road, forty rods 
from the house. The best tourmalines in New Hampshire are also 
obtained in the same locality. Down in the Tunnel are magnifi- 
cent quartz crystals. On the south peak is a curious furrow. Mr. 
James Clement says it was undoubtedly plowed by an iceberg drift- 
ing from the north-east to the south-west, when New Hampshire 
mountains were under the ocean. No person can fail to notice it. 
"Jobildunc" ravine where the Asquamauke leaps down a thousand 
feet at an angle of 80 degrees, is much visited. The Seven Cas- 
cades between the two peaks of the mountain on Gorge brook, are 
also well worth a visit. The stream descends at a sharp angle 
eight hundred feet over a series of steps, and after a great rain is 
a most magnificent sight. 

One of these days the Moosilauke Railroad Co. will utilize 

its charter and build its road from Glencliffe Station on the 

Boston & Maine to the summit of Moosilauke and a new 

chapter in the history of this mountain town will then begin. 



282 SOME THINGS ABOUT 



CHAPTER XIII. 

SOME MORE THINGS. 

From data which have been furnished the author by Hon. 
Ezra S. Stearns, of Fitchburg, Mass., it is evident that the 
grantees of the town of Coventry were residents of the 
ancient towns of Stamford and Norwalk, Connecticut, the 
most of them living in Stamford and many in that parish of 
the town which is now New Canaan. Mr. Stearns in the course 
of his historical research and work on the histories of Fitch- 
burg, Mass., and Rindge, N. H., became familiar with the 
early records of these early Connecticut towns, and a com- 
parison of the names of the grantees, as given in the charter 
of Coventry, with names he has found in the Stamford and 
Norwalk records settles the question of the residence and 
identity of grantees beyond all reasonable doubt. 

Theophilus Fitch, son of John Fitch, and second cousin 
of Governor Thomas Fitch, lived during his lifetime in Nor- 
walk, which adjoined Stamford until new towns were created 
by division of older towns. He was a magistrate from 1754 
to 1776. In 1754 he was chosen a deputy to the General 
Assembly from the town of Norwalk, and was apparently a 
prominent man of his time. He had ten children born in 
Norwalk, 1737-1758. 

John Fansher (more commonly called Fancher) lived in 
Stamford, m., November 17, 1736, Eunice Bouton. 

John Fancher, Jr., son of John and Eunice, b. July 15, 
1737, lived in Stamford. 

William Fancher, son of John and Eunice Fancher, b. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 283 

November 13, 1739 ; m. in New Canaan Parish, January 
2, 1776, Sarah Smith. 

Eliphalet Sealey lived in Stamford, m., December 10, 
1724, Sarah Holley. He had eight children, and among 
them Eliphalet, Jr., Wix and Sylvanus. 

Wix Sealey, son of Eliphalet and Sarah, m., November 4, 
1756, Mary St. John, and probably settled in New Canaan. 

Eliphalet Sealey, Jr., b. in Stamford April 10, 1730, m., 
May 10, 1750, Sarah Scrivner. 

Sylvanus Sealey, son of Eliphalet and Sarah, b. Novem- 
ber 17, 1738, m., April 7, 1758, Rebecca Tuttle. 

Obadiah Sealey, son of Obadiah, b. May 8, 1728, m., 
May 10, 1750, Abigail Crissey, a sister of Samuel Crissey, 
grantee, and lived in Stamford. 

Samuel Crissey, son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Hoit) 
Crissey, b. in Stamford March 28, 1734, m., April 5, 1759, 
Hannah Buxton. 

Daniel Stevens, son of Thomas Stevens, b. March 30, 
1711, m., February 1, 1734, Judy Webb, and lived in 
Stamford. 

Admer Stevens, son of Thomas, and brother of Daniel, 
b. November 13, 1720, m., November 27, 1750, Mary Tut- 
tle, lived in Stamford. 

Obadiah Stevens, son of Thomas, and brother of Daniel 
and Admer, b. March 29, 1707, m. Deborah Jessop. 

Obadiah Stevens, Jr., son of Obadiah, b. May 17, 1745, 
m., February 4, 1770, Sarah Skelding. 

Joshua Ambler, son of Stephen and Deborah (Hoit) Am- 
bler, b. September 9, 1723, m., April 6, 1749, Bethia 
Weed. 

Joseph Ambler, son of Stephen, and brother of Joshua, 
b. October 4, 1726, m., October 17, 1751, Elizabeth Reed. 



284 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin and Isaac Weed were broth- 
ers, and were sons of Benjamin Weed, of Stamford. 

Peter, Abraham, Nathaniel and Enos Weed were broth- 
ers, and were sons of Abraham Weed. 

Hezekiah and Reuben Weed were brothers, and were sons 
of Daniel Weed. 

Sylvanus Weed was a son of Jonas Weed. 

There were many Hoyts in Stamford, and several bearing 
the names of Ebenezer, Silas and Nathaniel, so that it can- 
not be distinguished which were Coventry grantees. 

Joseph, Deodate and Hezekiah Davenport were brothers, 
sons of John and Sarah Bishop Davenport, and grandsons 
of Rev. John Davenport, all of Stamford. 

Gideon Leeds, son of Cary Leeds, b. May 4, 1716. 

There was more than one Ebenezer, and more than one 
James Schofield of an age possible for them to have been 
grantees, and the same may be said of the Smiths, Ephraim, 
James, Jesse and Charles, so that it is difficult to identify 
which particular Ebenezer, Ephraim, etc. was grantee. 

Zebulon Husted lived in Stamford from and after 1733, 
and while the name of Peter does not appear he was doubt- 
less one of the Husted family. 

There was a St. John family in Stamford, though the 
name of David does not appear on the records. 

There were four John Bates of a probable age. 

James Bates, son of Nathaniel, b. 1734. 

Nathaniel Loundsbury, son of Henry, b. 1715. 

Theophilus Hanford was probably one of a numerous 
New Canaan family of that name. 

Joseph Lockwood, son of Joseph, b. June 30, 1731. 

Thomas Seymour, Jr., lived in New Canaan, m., Novem- 
ber 24, 1761, Sarah Wescott. 



CO VENTR Y— BENTON, N H. 285 

Daniel Benedict was of the numerous New Canaan family 
of that name. 

John Battes was probably Bates and one of the four 
Johns previously named. 

Nathaniel Waterbury, 6on of Jonathan, b. April 26, 
1724, m. Rebecca Holley and lived in Stamford. 

Josiah Waterbury was probably one of the same family 
which was numerous in Stamford though his name does not 
appear in the' records. 

Samuel, Jehiel and Eleazer Bouton were of Stamford, 
Samuel and Jehiel were brothers, and sons of Nathaniel 
Waterbury, and Eleazer was a son of Eleazer. 

Of the 61 grantees named, aside from the officials who 
were friends of Governor Went worth, all except Matthew 
Fountain, Adonijah Brown and James Banks are accounted 
for as residents of Stamford or Norwalk or New Canaan, and 
a more careful search might result in finding the names of 
these. If these grantors sent one of their number to examine 
the township which had been granted them the fact that none of 
them settled on their new possessions may be easily explained. 



Jonathan Welch, father of Jonathan Welch, came to 
the High Street section of Coventry from Massachusetts 
about 1790 and was one of the early settlers. A few years 
later he left home one day taking the road which led to the 
north part of the town through the Notch between Black 
mountain and Moosilauke, and was never seen or heard from 
afterwards. The boy Jonathan was brought up in the family 
of Obadiah Eastman. This road after having; been abandoned 
for nearly a century, except as it was used in the winter for 
logging and hauling lumber from a sawmill on Tunnel stream 



286 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

to the Warren Summit railroad station, was rebuilt by private 
parties in 1903, and at the session of the legislature in 
1905 was made a state road. It will doubtless, in the future, 
be one of the favorite mountain roads. By this road the 
Parker House is only about five miles distant from the 
Warren Summit, or GlenclifF railroad station. 



The wife of Samuel Page, and mother of James J. and 
Daniel D., was Submit Jeffers, a native of Hampstead, N. 
H. Stephen Jeffers of the same town had come to Coventry 
about 1810, and it was through his influence that Samuel 
Page who had settled first in Haverhill from Haverhill, 
Mass., about 1811, came to Coventry about 1816. 

Samuel Page reared a large family of children, Samuel, 
Caleb, James J., Sarah Ann, David, Sybil, Daniel D., 
Elvirah C, Joshua, John and Mary. Daniel D. married 
in 1842 Charlotte A. Balyen, who was born in Enfield, but 
who had moved with her parents to Hinsdale when quite 
young. Their children were : Joshua, b. September 4, 
1843; John S., b. October 10, 1846; George C, b. Au- 
gust 28, 1849; Emma C, b. 1851; Frank, b. February 
23, 1854; William B., b. July 3, 1856; Harriet E. b. 
April 1, 1859 ; Herman H., b. May 3, 1862 ; Harry E., b. 
March 31, 1867. 



Nathan Mead, who settled in Coventry in what was 
known as the Page district, was a native of Connecticut. 
He served the patriot cause in the War of the Revolution, 
and at its close married Mary King and removed to Peach- 
am, Vt. He came to Coventry in 1802 where he cleared 
up a large farm and raised a large family. One of his 



COVENTRY— BENTON, N. H. 287 

daughters, Fanny, married James J. Page, and two of his 
sons, William and Moses, were prominent citizens until 
their removal from town. 



Major Samuel Mann, father of George W. Mann, who 
came to Coventry in 1835, was descended from Richard 
Mann, b. in Cornwall, England, emigrated to America and 
settled in Plymouth, Mass., in 1645, m. Rebecca, daughter 
of Elder William Brewster. 

Richard Mann, son of Richard, b. in Plymouth, Mass., 
February 5, 1652, m. Elizabeth Southworth. 

Nathaniel Mann, son of Richard J., b. in Scituate, Mass., 
October 27, 1693, m. Mary Root, resided in Hebron, Conn. 

John Mann, son of Nathaniel, b. in Scituate, Mass., No- 
vember 20, 1720, m. Margaret, sister of Rev. Samuel 
Peters D. D. 

Matthew Mann, son of John, b. in Hebron, Conn., De- 
cember 20, 1741, m. Hannah Moody. He settled in Orford 
about 1765 with his brother John. He died in Orford in 
1825. 

Samuel Mann, son of Matthew, b. in Orford in 1773. 
He married Mary Howe, of LandafF, and resided in that 
town until he removed to Coventry. 



Peter Howe and Daniel Howe, the sons of Peter 
Howe, a Revolutionary soldier of Landaff, were known 
during the last thirty or forty years of their long lives as 
"Uncle Peter," and "Uncle Daniel." They were seldom 
spoken of in any other way, and their farms are still known 
as the "Uncle Peter" and "Uncle Daniel" farms. They 



288 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

were quiet, substantial, God' fearing men, and their hustling, 
active, energetic, talkative helpmeets were known as "Aunt 
Daniel" and Aunt Peter." The latter for years was the midwife 
in nearly all maternity cases for miles about and was famed 
for her skill and success. Hospitable, charitable, neighbor- 
ly, thrifty, she was indeed "Aunt" to the entire neighbor- 
hood. "Aunt Daniel" was famed for her excellence as a 
cook, and was also as famous for her apologies concerning 
the quality of her food. Away back in the forties she had 
on one occasion invited the Rev. H. H. Hartwell to supper. 
"Aunt Daniel" was a devout Methodist, a typical Martha, 
who believed nothing too good for her minister. She made 
careful and elaborate preparation, and when at last her 
guest was seated at a table laden with good things, she be- 
gan : "Now Brother Hartwell, I'm sorry, but really I haven't 
anything here fit to eat." "All right Sister Howe," said her 
guest, "I'm not particular, so just get me a bowl of bread 
and milk." "Aunt Daniel" protested, but the clergyman 
insisted, and made his supper on bread and milk. 

Peter Howe, father of Peter and Daniel, came to Landaft 
in 1791 from Bradford where he had settled after the War 
of the Revolution, purchasing land for a homestead from 
Simeon Eastman for £100 lawful money. 



Benton in 1905 is in point of population one of the small 
towns of the state. Some sections which were formerly settled 
and occupied by the owners of farms have been abandoned. In 
the Hisrh Street neighborhood the families have dwindled to 
two, and the same may be said for the Page district. A 
section of the Meadows which had become depopulated is 
now, however, one of the best farming sections in town, the 
new comers, for the most part thrifty French Canadians, 



OO VENTR Y— BENTON, N. H. 289 

having erected substantial new buildings and greatly im- 
proved the run out farms. A school house has been erected, 
and the children of the district are being given that of which 
their parents are destitute, a knowledge of letters. In the 
north part of the town, except on the road leading from Bath 
and Haverhill line to Tunnel Stream and the Parker House, 
and on Howe hill, the farms are for the most part unoccu- 
pied, but those still cultivated are in a better state of culti- 
vation than in former times, and the value of farm products 
has not materially decreased. The decay of the lumber in- 
dustry has not been wholly an unmixed evil. There are 
better farms and better farmers than ever before, and there 
are those who make farming pay. A well conducted cream- 
ery gives a ready market for milk, and farm products find a 
ready sale. The town has good roads, mails twice a day, 
free rural delivery in the morning, and the regular mail 
through the post office in the evening. The post office and 
country store in the "Hollow" and the meeting house where 
religious services are regularly held furnish, as of old, social 
and religious centers; two schools are maintained under the 
town system aside from that on the Meadows, and political 
conditions still continue strenuous and interesting. If anyone 
doubts this let him attend a Benton town meeting. Benton 
may be small, but there are those who love the old town, 
and are confident of her future. 



ADDENDA. 

Gilbert P. Wright, son of Abijah Wright, b. in Hebron, 
July 18, 1815, d. July 20, 1888; m., 1841, Phebe Mars- 



290 SOME THINGS ABOUT 

ton, daughter of Jonathan and Phebe Howe Marston, b. 
Coventry, March 7, 1823. 

CHILDREN. 

Russell W., b. April 22, 1842, deceased. 
Ellen H., b. February 13, 1844, deceased. 
Jonathan M., b. August 30, 1845, deceased. 
David L., b. April 19, 1847. 
Phebe A., b. May 12, 1849. 
Gilbert P., b. December 27, 1850. 
Newell C, b. November 21, 1852. 
Charles W., b. July 11, 1855. 
IraB., b. October 1, 1861. 
Mary B., b. July 19, 1863. 
William R.< b. February 11, 1867. 



OO VENTJR Y— BENTON, N H. 291 

ERRATA. 

Page 4, 8th line, for "David" Stevens read "Daniel." 
Page 4, 14th line, for Samuel "Cressey" read "Crissey." 
Page 28, 16th line, for "Nathaniel" Goodall Howe read 
"Ira." 

Page 44, 5th line from bottom, for "Augustine" Coburn 
read "Augustus." 

Page 47, 11th line, for "Asa" Smith read "Ara." 
. Page 63, 11th line, tor "fourth" read "third." 

Page 68, 1st line, for "checquered" read "chequered." 
Page 71, 11th line for "thrice" read "twice." 
Page 71, 3rd line from bottom, for "Nathan" Howe read 
"Nathaniel." 

Page 79, 9th line, for "Edwin" Tyler read "Alfred." 
Page 85, 14th line, for "Moses W." Tyler read "Moses 
K." 

Page 95, 15th line, also 7th line from bottom, for "Wil- 
liam" Carpenter read "Moses." 

Page 96, 1st line, erase "Jr." after name of Charles Car- 
penter. 

Page 104, 4th line, for "Frank C." Parker read "Frank 
B." 

Page 105, 8th line, for "Dennison" D. Davis read "Den- 
nis. 

Page 109, 4th line, for "John C." Davis read "John K." 
Page 110, 4th line, for "1860" read "1870." 
Page 110, 9th line, for "Benton" read "Boston." 
Page 115, 13th line from bottom, Leslie Tyler resides in 
Medford, Mass. 

Page 117, 15th line, for Fred M. "Clark" read "Tyler." 
Page 117, 15th line, for Ida "Tyler" read "Clark." 
Page 156, 21st line, for Nathaniel "Home" read "Howe." 



292 ERRATA. 

Page 215, 4th line from bottom, for "1886" read "1864." 
Page 257, 27th line, for October "19" read October "29." 
Page 270, 10th line, add after the word "Jonathan" the 
words "and Lydia." 

Page 271, 17th line, for "Slyvester" read "Sylvester." 
Page 287, 11th line, for "Richard J." read "Richard, Jr." 



293 



294 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



NDEX OF NAMES. 



A. 






Armsdale, Isaac, 
Ashley, William V., 






4 
268 


Abbott, Chester, 




77 


Aspinwall, Samuel, 


33, 


149 


150 


Adams, Rev. Arnold, 




131 






151 


152 


John, 




217 


Atkinson, Mary, 






269 


Aiken, Frank, 




241 


Theodore, 






5 


Allen, Pardon W., 


115, 


184, 186 


Theodore, 


Jr., 




5 


187, 


188, 


189, 190 


Atwell, John, 






44 


191, 


199, 


234, 269 


Chase W., 






44 


Guy L., 




269 


Ayer, Alvah, 


36, 


160 


166 


Linwood H., 




269 


Betsey, 






238 


Effie E., 




269 


John P., 






160 


Ward W., 




269 


Judith, 






219 


Frank W., 




269 


Timothy, 3C 


,43, 


154, 


156 


Rebecca, 




239 








219 


Aldrich, Georgia A., 


217, 


235, 241 


Steneth, 






36 


Ambler, Joshua, 




4,283 










Joseph, 




4,283 


B. 








Ames, Horace, 




90 










Annis, Anna C., 70, 


120, 


242, 270 


Bacon, William, 






88 


Mary J., 




27o 


Badger, Chas. M., 






104 


Alonzo, 122, 


123, 


223, 270 


Bailey, Byron, 




36, 


105 


Betsey J., 




70, 223 


Calvin, 






90 


Geo. G., 




70, 171 


David, 




83, 


168 


Geo. W., 


70, 


112, 270 


Ebenezer, 






22 


John S., 


70, 


117, 234 
270, 276 


Horace, 
Geo. W., 






90 
122 


Joseph, 68 


, 69, 


165, 167 


Jona, 






48 




168, 


169, 223 


Myron, 




89, 


171 


Milo H., 


39 


, 70, 270 


Stephen, 






83 


Mary F., 




223, 273 


Sarah, 






58 


Perley M., 




70,83 


Sally, 






231 


Samuel C, 70, 74, 


107, 170 


Col. Jacob, 






21 


173, 


176, 


183, 184 


Bancroft, Parker, 






112 




223, 


270, 276 


Barber, Rev. D. W., 




131, 


136 


William H., 70, < 


223, 276 


Nathan, 






39 


Carrie, 




270 


Banfield, Geo. T,. 






85 


Ruth, 




70 


Bartlett, R. T., 






56 


Mary, 




70 


Miriam, 






50 


Rachel, 




70 


Ball, James B., 44, 


156, 


157, 


253 


Angier, Samuel, 




89 


Mary, 






253 


Andrews, Rev. Thorn 


16 J. 


131 


Rachel, 






253 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



295 



Ball, Lois W., 


253 


Blake, Paine, 




57 


Enos W., 


253 


James, 




68 


Balkam, Edward W., 


242 


Joseph, 79, 


173, 


174, 175 


Batchelder, Abel, 35, 4S 


, 53, 231 


Prescott, 




108, 180 


Daniel, 


47 


Warren, 




108 


Daniel. Jr., 


J6, 37, 47 


Alvin, 




183 


156, 159, 160, 


161, 162 


Blair, William, 




145 


163, 199, 


211, 212 


Bliss, William, 




109 


John S., 


35 


Blodgett, Nathan, 


102, 


106, 111 


Kingsley H., 


27, 35, 53 


175, 


179, 


180, 181 


Cyrene, 


238 


Nathan, Jr. 


J 


109, 111 


Moses, 


52 


Bowdy, Samuel, 




22 


Mary Ann, 


257 


Bowman, David, 107, 


178, 


213, 229 


Stephen, 


220 


Minerva, 




63, 109 


Sally, 51, 52, 


231, 257 


Bowles, Kirk, 




109 


Lydia, 


52 


Bowen, W. T., 




111 


Abigail, 


50, 52 


Hiram, 




111 


Baleyn, Charlotte A., 


240 


Bourke, Nora, 




243 


Bates, James, 


5, 284 


Bouton, Jehiel, 




4, 285 


Jobn, 


4, 284 


Eleazer, Jr., 




4 


Banks, James, 


4, 285 


Samuel, 




4, 285 


Bedell, Moody, 


7, 144 


Boynton, Betsey, 




245 


Benedict, Daniel, 


4, 285 


Polly, 




238 


Bettis, John, 


4, 285 


Brill, George, 




122 


Bean, W. F., 


194 


Bradbury, Phebe, 




52 


Elgie M., 


243 


Bradford, Rev. J. N., 




131 


Chas. C. Jr., 


242 


Bradish, Levi, 




36, 55 


Belding, Samuel, 


4, 284 


Charlotte, 




229, 239 


Bell, VV. E., 


120 


Lucinda, 




229 


Belyea, George, 


122 


Bronson, Susanna, 




249 


Bemis, George W., 109, 


110, 181 


Rebecca, 




109, 245 


Lyman, 110, 186, 


187, 226 


Brewster, Elder William 


287 




274 


Brown, Jeremiah, 




22 


Moses P., 


110, 266 


John, 35 


, 55, 


166, 168 


Martha, 


110 






169, 265 


Best, Rev. A. B., 


131, 136 


Richard, 


35 


, 55, 162 


Bickford, Isaac, 


72 


Jonas G., 55, 5t 


, 74, 107 


William, 


39 


161, 


168, 


169, 170 


Rachel, 


231 




171, 


172, 265 


Bisbee, Ellen S., 


58 


John C, 




55, 265 


Sarah, 


60 


George E., 55 


109 


214, 265 


Gad, 


267 


Allen, 




55, 266 


Lilla, 


269 


Jonas N., 




55, 266 


Bixby, William C, 100, 


101, 106 


Daniel W., 56 


10?. 


224, 265 


124, 170, 178, 


179, 182 


Jesse M., 


56 


, 87, 265 


Bishop, Samuel, and fam 


ily, 226 


Leonard, 


56 


, 92, 174 


Diana, 114, 241, 


256, 268 


George, 




100 


Betsey, 


226 


Waite, 




81 


Helen A., 


226 


Caleb, 




85, 265 


Sarah A., 


226 


Willis A., 




113, 224 


Maria W., 


226 


Rev. E., 




131 



296 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Brown, Rev. I. C, 131 

Olive, 224, 265 

Eliza, 56, 265 

Marium, 56, 265 

Clara J., 56, 111, 265 

Sally, 265 

Mary, 265 

Susan, 265 

Abigail, 265 

Julia Ann, 265 

Cyrenia, 111, 265 

Imogene, 266 

Marium (2) 266 

Adonijah, 285 

Browley, John, 55 

Bruce, William K., 82, 101, 166 

167, 169, 172, 173 

Brooks, Otis, 104 

Francis A., 227 

Levi and family, 227 

Lena E., 243 

Elizabeth, 96 

Bryant, Eev. Geo. W., 131 

Burnham, Josiah, 16, 22 

Daniel, 83, 89 

W. H., 83 

Fred P.. 119 

Burleigh, Alvin, 42 

Buswell, John, 57, 106, 154, 166 

167, 171 

Moses P., 37, 96, 97 

106, 181 

John G., 89 

Albert, 103 

James, 108 

Butler, Frank, 102 

Burbank, John, 105, 106 

Burke, Napoleon, Jr. 122 

Buffum, Rev. J. M., 131 

Burr, Jeanette M., 264 

Buzzell, Bert B., 242 

Kate Howe, 243 

Byrne, Rev. Claudius, 131 



c. 

Cady, Sarah J., 
Carleton, Mary, 
Cawley, Chase, 
Carden, Emma J., 
Carr, Cornelius, 



222 

206 

80, 102 

244 

90, 106, 171 



Carpenter, (William) Moses C, 

95. 235 

Emery B., 95,98 

Moses B., 95 

Calvin J., 95 

Chester, 95 

Adaline, 94, 234 

Alonzo, 95 

Charles, 96, 176 

Carter, Nelson B., 56, 96 

Louisa, 265 

Caswell, William, 103 

Carr, Horace L., 105, 106 

Call, Rev. Ollof, H. 131 

Cady, Roswell, 104, 176 

Casbier, Caroline C, 225 

Chapman, Ezekiel, 9, 11 

Chandler, John W., 7, 8, 10, 14 

19, 25 

Rev. F. D., 269 

Chase, David, 36, 37, 93 

Willis, 90 

Nathan, 93. 171 

Chaney, David, 55 

ChamberJin, S. H., 112, 183, 184 

191, 192 

J. R., 128 

Cutler, 189 

Chandler, Rev Henry, 121 

Cheney, Joseph Y., 133 

Choir, the Benton, 133, 134 

Cilley, Benjamin, 265 

Clark, Edward, 23 

Charles, 103, 112 

James B., 104, 107, 175 

Jeremiah A., 109, 167, 175 

182, 183, 184 

Nathaniel, 111, 185, 188 

189, 191 

George H., 116, 191, 193 

196, 197, 198 

Frank, 186 

Mary J., 230 

Rose B., 241 

Susan E., 276 

Sally, 41, 224 

Ida, 117 

Elvira, 206 

Clement, Jonathan, 85 

Elisha, 89 

Clifford, Elisha, 257 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



297 



Clifford, G. C, 


271 


Corl 


iss, Kimball 


83 


Clough, Chester C, 


56, 89, 105 




Chester, 


103, 106 




216, 227 




John L., 


199 


Marium, 


227 




George, 


103, 108, 178 


Merrill, 89 


109, 183, 189 




Calvin, 


102, 174 




190 


Copp, Asa E. 


83 


Darius, 


95, 105 




John, 


108 


R. Clement, 


109 




Rev. James M., 110, 182, 240 


Moses, 


111, 181, 266 


Colby, 


265 


Susan, 


270 




John, 


265 


Eev. E. C, 


131 


Cowan, Alantha, 


275 


David, 


175, 176, 178 




Spafford 


112, 185, 186, 234 


Coburn, Nathan, 34, 


35, 48, 71, 72 




Ellery P 


184 


73 


158, 159, 160 


Coll 


ins, Chas T., 


112, 182,190, 276 




199, 231, 237 




Allie E.' 


241 


Robert, 


36, 39, 48, 126 




Lee A., 


122 




170, 172, 173 




Chas. P. 


122, 243 




174, 238 


Cool 


idge, William, 11, 12, 21, 24 


Augustus, 


44, 155, 156 




27, 29, 32, 33, 144, 145 




157, 158 






147, 148, 149, 150 


Daniel, 


49 






151, 199, 205, 247 


Nathan P., 


73, 257 




Edward P., 36, 57, 247 


Rachel, 


71, 72 




Mary Bridge, 247 


Levi P., 


73, 257 




William F., 247 


James Fisk, 


73, 257 




Jona Hale, 247 


Benj. F., 


73, 257 


Cooley, Alden, 


276 


Daniel J., 


73, 257 




Epbraim 


, 105, 107, 187, 224 


Willard W,, 


110, 111, 184 




Adaline, 


105 




185, 213, 265 




Holman 


D., 105,109,224 


Ransom, 


111, 112, 190 




Myra, 


105, 224 




265 




Rebecca, 


105 


Jonathan, 


239 


Cole 


, Samuel, 


126 


Russell, 


240, 256 


Connor, Lucy, 


239 


Eliza A., 


240 


Corwin, Helen, 


244 


Roxana, 


253 


Cox 


James H. 


36, 46, 107, 156 


Rosella 


256 






161, 224, 225, 255 


Robert G., 


256 




Thomas F., 


46, 90, 107, 171 


Betsey J., 


256 






172, 173, 180 


Moses T., 


256 






181, 255 


Augustus, 


256 




Hannah C, 


224 


Josiah Nelson, 256 




J. Albert, 


46, 89, 107, 170 


Lydia W., 


73, 257 






224, 255 


Mary Jane, 


73, 257 




Betsey, 


224 


Sally Ann, 


73, 257 




George, 


47, 255 


Alonzo, 


257 




Sarah J., 


224 


Cogswell, Rev. Geo. 


W., 35, 37, 57 
61, 126, 133 




John P., 


95. 96, 97, 107 
114, 234 




135, 206 




Roberto C, 


(Birt) 95, 117, 118 


C. T., 


102 






123 


Corwin, David, 


44 




Edward L., 


112, 187, 189, 190 


Colburn, Samuel, 


80 




John E., 


122, 189 



298 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Cox, Fred P., 

Lulu M.. 
Crimmings, John, 



271 

243 

111, 183, 185 

194 

James, 17, 18, 111 

112, 198 

Crissey, Samuel, 4, 283 

Cross, Ephraim, 83, 106, 226 

Cummings, Calvin W., 56, 266 

Lorenzo D., 78 

John, 78, 161, 162 

Benjamin, 102 

Curtis, James, 11, 19 

Elijah, 87, 171 

Currier, Jacob, 36, 48, 160, 166 

252 
Rev. John, 132 

Susan W., 252 

John W., 252 

Patience F., 252 

Betsey. 223 

Moses C, 2 

Alonzo, 253 

Cutting, Charles, 116 

Cushman, Bev. L. P., 135 

D. 

Davis, Daniel. 32. 38, 147, 148 

149, 150, 152, 153, 199 

James B., 40, 153, 155 

Benj., K., 43, 250 

" family of, 250 

Jonathan, 49, 50, 52 

Jonathan, Jr., 35,49,52 

107, 114, 230 

Nathan B., 35, 49, 51, 160 

161, 162, 163, 167 

170, 171, 199 

206,231 

Jeremiah B., 35, 49, 51, 88 

107, 126, 167, 168 

172, 173, 266 

Israel, 35, 49. 51, 230, 231 

William, 49, 52, 107, 170 

175,235 

Darius K., 51, 89, 170, 172 

173, 270 

Abel S. E. B., 51, 92, 171 

174 



Davis, Israel B., 51, 227 

George, 52, 78 

Wesley B., 104, 266 

Dennis D., 105, 116, 188 

224, 241, 267 

Laban T., 108, 266 

Marcel! us M., 109 

Elder John, 126, 133, 134 

John K., 52, 172, 225 

Jeremiah B., Jr., 214, 266 

Kimball T., 213, 266 

Mary A., 51, 53, 94 266 

Eliza C, 51, 87, 266 

Sarah W., 51, 266 

George C, 267 

Addie D., 271 

Charles, 272 

Scott, 272 

Amanda, 52 

Anna, 52 

Miriam, 52 

Maria, 52 

Sally Ann, 52 

Mary L., 274 

Susan K., 275 

Abigail, 51, 231 

Irene, 52 

Sabrina, 52 

Polly, 52 

Lydia G., 230 

Dacy, Margaret J., 244 

Damon, George, 120 

Davenport, Jeremiah, 49 

Joseph, 4, 284 

Deodate, 4, 284 

Hezekiah, 4, 284 

Day, Joseph, 47 

Martha A., 223 

Calif, 56 

Dorothy, 228 

Ezekiel, 254 

Samuel, 254 

Daniel, 254 

Abigail, 254 

Danforth, Elkanah, 33, 39 

Dean, (J corgi ana S., 70 

Delany, Arthur C, 122, 243 

Devlin, Edward P., 109 

Dexter, Stephen II., 122, 198, 199 

243 

Dinsmoro, Rev. J. R., 131 



INDEX OF NAME 8. 



299 



Doty, Daniel, 22, 33, 49, 147, 148 


Eastman, Orrin, 


111, 112 


149, 252 




Moses, 33, 147, 


148, 149 


family of, 252 




150, 


245,274 


Levi, 33, 38 




Peter, 33, 149, 


211,238 


William, 49 






245 


Loeza, 251 




Jesse, Jr., 36, 


159, 252 


Curtis, 251 




Joseph 


211 


William, 36, 251 




Mehitabel, 


221, 245 


Niles, 36, 251 




Eliza Boynton, 


221 


Dow, Moses, 23 




Ruth, 219, 


245,274 


Downey, Josiah, 102 




Mrs. Eunice, 


238 


Dowse, 226 


»«. ... 


Lavinia, 


238 


Drown, Richard, 111, 185 




Sarah, 


245 


Chester, 116 




Rosella, 


245 


Dunlap, John, 98 




Nancy, 


245 


Dnrant, Elisha C, 104 




Betsey, 


245 


Dwyer, Francis, 93, 107, 181 




Phebe, 


246 


Robert, 96, 97 




Caroline, 


246 


Cornelius, 109 




Abigail 246, 


267, 274 






Asa, 


246,274 






Elizabeth, 


274 


E. 




Adaline, 


246 






Obadiah 3rd., 


246 


Eastman, Ohadiah, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 




Edna M., 


117 


12, 14, 18, 20, 26, 29 




Ezra, 


246 


81, 32, 33, 144, 145 




Ebenezer, 


246,264 


147, 148, 149, 199, 205 




Addison W., 


250 


211, 221, 245, 273 




Philena, 


251 


Obadiah, Jr., 82, 150 




William I., 


197, 243 


152, 153, 154, 155 




Oliver D., 


51, 271 


205, 219, 238, 245 




Georgie A., 


275 


James, 12, 32, 33, 145 


Eaton, 


Samuel, 


11 


148, 150, 151 


Edmunds, Joseph, 


211 


152, 154, 157, 238 


Elliott 


Robert, 18, 22, 


29, 31, 33 


245, 252 




145, 148 


149, 273 


Benj. M., 36, 53 




Daniel, 45, 155 


156, 163 


JesBe, 36, 53, 54, 155 






165, 238 


157, 158, 199, 245 




Winthrop, 49 


147, 149 


William, 85, 86, 87, 107 






237 


166, 167, 168, 169 




Roswell, 


49 


170, 171, 173, 174 




Hiram, 


83 


Sylvester, 89, 235, 245 




Almira, 


103 


George E., 89, 109, 245 




Benjamin, 


83 


William W., 89,116,123 




Thomas, 


83 


187, 189, 190 




Robert Jr., 


237 


191, 192, 193,194 




8. W., 


182 


195, 196, 197, 198 




Harry H. 


196 


199, 235, 241, 245 


Ellsworth, Moses, 


48,221 


Louisa, 106, 137, 235 


Emery 


, Sylvanus, 


39 


245 


Emerson, Daniel, 


68 


Ruth J., 246 


English, Rev. John, 131 


, 133, 166 



300 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



F. 



Fackney, John, 
W. F., 
Jane, 
Eveline, 
Fairbanks, Samuel, 
Fancher, William, 
John, 
John Jr., 
Farmer, Oliver, 
Fawcett, Rev. Joseph, 
Ferguson, Franklin, 
Fifield, Nathan, 
William, 
Isaac, 
Clarence, 
Fitch, Theophilus, 
Fitzpatrick, Maria, 
Flanders, Onesiphorun, 



121 

121, 198 

93 

243 

39, 151 

4, 282 

4,282 

5 

49 

131, 155 

108 

39 

39 

39 

243 

2, 4, 282 

269 

9, 10, 11 

12 

Joseph, 22 

Josiah, 45, 211, 223 

Israel, 36, 45, 46, 107 

122, 156, 162, 168 

' 178, 223, 255, 274 

James, 36, 45 

John, 45, 46, 56, 94 

107, 173, 185 

223, 255, 266 

Lafayette, 45, 46, 107 

179, 181, 216, 255, 266 

James P., 85 

Polly, 46, 223, 275 

Granville, 220 

Eunice G., 220 

Susan G., 220 

Eveline, 243 

Deborah, 220, 239 

Sally, 40, 237 

Olive, 239 

Hannah (Goodwin), 45 

46, 101, 241, 255 

Mahala, 45, 46, 239, 256 

Lovia B., 241 

Elgie M., 242 

Fletcher, Curtis, 105, 107 

Ford, Elisha, 18, 30, 31, 33, 36 

37, 144, 145, 148 

152, 153, 154, 219 



James, 18, 30, 31, 33, 36, 37 

147, 148, 151, 238 

John, 44 

Thomas W., 49, 229 

Elisha, Jr., 53 

Caleb S., 161, 162, 165, 166 

167, 168, 219 

Salome, 219 

Forsaith Robert, 148 

Foss, Albert A., 115, 122, 242 



Frank, 
John F., 
Carrie, 

Foster, Martha, 

Fountain, Matthew, 

French, Moses, 
Burton, 
Nathaniel, 
Lewis, 
Thomas, 
Elvira, 
Hannah, 
Nahum W., 
Herbert C, 

Fuller, Henry, 
Sally, 

G. 

Gannett, William, Qt 

James, 
Gauss, John, 
Gerrish, Henry, 
Gifford, Charles, 
John O., 
Mary, 
Gilchrist, Lillian B., 
Oilman, John, 

Geo. H., 
Phebe M., 
William H., 
Glazier, Aaron P., 
Sarah, 
Janes, 
Van Buren, 
Alma, 
Henry A., 
Alice, 
Gleason, Sherburn, 
Glover, Ebenezer, 
Goddard, Thatcher, 



120 

241 

273 

269 

5 

47 

87 

96 

121 

36, 229 

250 

225^ 255 

243 

273 

103 



,161,169,172 

98 

268 

9 

93, 107, 178 

93 

93 

272 

121 

242 

275 

272 

85 

201 

103 

134 

103 

105, 107, 216 

103 

109 

83 

13, 17, 21 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



301 



Goodwin, Chellis, 35, 160, 225, 239 

Hannah, 225 

Sally, 225 

Gordon, Horace W„ 63, 103, 107 

176, 216, 233 

Martha, 4, 271 

Lucy Ann, 271 

Gould, Phineas, 36 

Gray, Alitha, 220 

Elijah, 36, 39, 40, 220 

Elijah Jr., 50, 220 

Elijah S., 36, 74, 155, 161 

Robert, 238 

Truman, 98, 269 

Green, Mary, 38, 222, 238 

H. 

Hadley, Marietta A., 264 

Hadlock, Belle M., 271 

Hale, Jonathan, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 

20, 33, 36, 144, 145 

147, 150, 153, 154 

157, 205 

Susanna Tuttle, 20, 21 

Nancy, 13, 21 

Hitty, . 21 

Samuel, 20 

Mary, 21, 247 

Martha, 20 

Hall, Rufus, 79 

Maturin B., 79 

Hamlet, Edwin, 271 

Hammond, Rev. Henry, 131 

Hand, Aaron, 96, 97 

William, 35 

Hanford, Theophilus, 4 

Harford, James, 44, 155, 250 

Viania, 250 

Sylvanus, 250 

James, Jr., 250 

John, 250 

Hardin, William, 104, 107, 276 

Emma A., 266 

Jane, 271 

119 

119, 189, 190 



Lucy, 
Hardy, Eben T., 
Sumner, 
Roswell, 
Frank, 
W. J., 



176 
190 
196 



Harriman, James, 


82, 


166, 170 




171, 


172, 199 


Mrs. James, 


82 


James M. 


3> 


r , 95, 106 




176, 


177, 179 




194, 


195, 196 


Eliza M., 




227 


Sarah, 




222 


Harris John, 




108, 181 


Hartwell, Rev. H. H. 




288 


Tristram, 




111, 112 


William, 




102 


Hatch, Benjamin, 




108 


Haynes, Dennis, 




217 


Haywood, Mattie B., 




241 


Heath, Mrs. H. E., 




262 


Hibbard, Elisha, 103 


107, 


117, 265 


Hight, Samuel E., 




120 


Hildreth, Timothy, 




57 


C. C, 




263 


Hill, LaFayette, 




96, 106 


Randall, 




96, 106 


E., 




106 


Franklin, 




117, 193 


Betsey, 




250 


Hinkley, Asa, 




38, 229 


James, 


35,2 


Jesse, 




35, 38 


Hazen' 




53 


Margaret, 




229 


Hobart, Mo«es L., 39 


, 40, 


152, 153 


Hoit, or Hoyt, Ebenezer, 


4,284 


Nathaniel, 


4, 284 


Nancy 


, 


223 


Silas, 




4, 284 


Homan, Rev. Cbarles 


R., 


131, 133 
136 


House, Charles, 




111 


Hoyt, Daniel, 




108, 123 


Howe (or How), Asa, 




44, 45 


Allie A., 




230 


Charles M., 98, 99 


107, 176 






177, 179 


Charles H., 


99 


, 108,213 


Daniel, 24, 


28, 30, 33, 35 


37, 


107, 


129, 174 
232, 287 


David M., 


79, 


102, 166 




168, 


240, 248 


Daniel M., 


107, 


178, 182 


189, 


190, 


191, 193 



302 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Howe, Daniel M., 194, 213, 230, 270 
Dorcas, 115, 134, 269 

Edith C, 273 

Fred S., Ill, 188, 189, 269 
Halsey R., 119, 190, 191 

235,269 
Harriet Ellen, 81, 264 

Harriet W., 231 

Herbert, 275 

Ira G., 27, 257 

John G., Ill 

Julia, 269 

Kate S., 241, 270 

Kendrick, 187, 188, 230 

241,270 
Kimball T. 72, 257 

Lucena M., 81, 264 

Luthera L., 269 

Merab, 230, 275 

Martha J., 235 

Moses W., 79, 94, 107, 171 
172, 216, 217, 248 
Nathan C, 72, 257 

Nathaniel, 28, 44, 71, 155 
156. 157, 231, 257 
Paul M., 120, 190, 191, 192 
194, 195, 196, 199 
242,270 
Phebe M., 248 

Phebe, 51, 79, 232, 234 

269 
Polly, 101 

Peter, 24, 28, 30, 33, 36, 37 
107, 114, 152, 153 
154, 160, 161, 168 
186, 234, 248, 287 
Peter, 2d, 80, 107, 171, 231 
263 
Rhoda, 38 

Rufus W„ 105, 231, 263 

Royal R., 269 

Samuel, 35, 98, 107, 168 

169, 170, 171, 181 
184, 185, 187, 230 
269, 276 
Sam, 121, 270 

Sally. 79, 248 

Syrah R., 98, 269 

Susan E., 270 

Susanna, 51 

Stedman W., 72, 257 



Howe, Timothy, 


100 


William, 


67 


William, 2d, 


35,82 


Howard, Joshua, 


100 


Howl and, Moses N., 


79, 248 


Moody, 


108 


Hudson, Rev. W. A. 


131 


Hull, M., 


163 


Humphrey, Ernest P., 


271 


Blanche A., 


242 


Huntress, John, 


43, 154 


Hunkins, Jonathan, 88, 


107, 169 


170, 


171, 174 


177, 178, 


199, 267 


Harvey A., 67 


, 88, 229 


Joseph, 


88, 267 


Thomas II., 


88, 103 




180, 267 


Olive A., 43, 88, 26 


Clarissa, J., 


88, 267 


Robert, 


47 


Hutchins, Ann 11., 


276 


Benjamin C, 


36, 48 




49, 226 


Benjamin F., chil- 


dren, 


226 


Benjamin F., 


48 




49,226 


Charles A., 


266 


Durward, 


122 


Ella A. 


266 


Eveline, 


264, 271 


Henrv, 


108 


Ellen" B., 


266 


Emma M., 


266 


Joseph, 48, 49, 56, 107 


168, 182 


265,266 


Jane B., 


266 


Lucius, 48, 49, 274 


Marietta, 


266 


Myra A., 


226 


Nathan I)., 


118, 189 


Noah, 48, 49, 


107, 167 


169, 


176, 226 




240, 271 


Philena, 


274 


Solomon J., 


116, 




123, 171 


Susan, 


149 


Sally Ann, 


226, 266 


Husted, Peter, 


4 



INDE± OF NAMES. 



303 



Husted, Zehulon, 4 

Hurlburt, Jonas, 102 

Alden, 105, 107, 179 

180, 183, 184, 186 

Frank P., 273 

Hyde, John, 97, 98, 99, 106, 173 

Moses, 98, 99 

William, 98, 99 

J. 

Ingerson, George, 121 

J. 

Jacobs, Charles, 105, 180 

Jackson, Samuel, 11, 18, 19, 30, 31 

33, 144, 146, 147 

148, 149, 151, 152 

155, 221, 248, 273 

Robert, 30, 33, 149, 152 

154, 156, 160 

161, 162 

Jeremiah, 110, 147 

237, 246 

Samuel, Jr., 31, 33, 150 

Smith, 47 

Thomas, 249 

Marcus B., 53, 54, 249 

Dan Young, 249 

William Wilson, 249 

Fletcher, 249 

Eliza, 249 

Thomas B., 249 

John, 249 

Thais, 248 

Amos, 248 

Moses, 248 

Mehitabel, 248 

Olive, 246 

Artemas, 246 

SaTah, 246 

Hanah, 246 

Mary Ann, 246 

James, 246 

Betsey, 246 

Jeffers, Josiah F., 36, 56, 106, 162 

163, 167, 171, 

173, 176, 177 

181, 221, 240 

James, 238, 250 



Jeffers, John, 36, 221, 239 

Levi, 238 

Lydia, 221 

Lorenzo D., 126, 128 

Mary Gould, 251 

Marietta, 110 

Polly, 221 

Stephen, 33, 36, 37, 151 

152, 154, 156 

160, 161, 162 

Stephen, Jr., 83 

Susan, 221 

Jenness, William, 45 

Jesseman, Hannah, 240, 271 

Jewett, Rev. Jeremiah S.. 132 

Johnson, Nathan, 48 

K. 

Kendall, William, 121, 196, 198 

199,264 

Betsey, 69 

Kent, James, 36 

Kendrick. Abbie, 58 

Keyser. William. 36. 49, 50, 107 

162, 171. 227. 267 

John E., 45. 46, 50, 86 

107, 133, 140 

174, 177, 267, 276 

Charles B., 50, 53, 94, 101 

107, 180, 182 

183, 187, 188 

193, 267, 276 

Mary Jane. 267 

Henry E., 267 

Laura, 267 

Abigail. 227 

James H., 50, 107, 108 

123, 177, 178. 179 

183, 184, 185, 186 

187, 189, 190, 192 

195, 196, 197, 199 

216, 217, 267 

Leman S.. 118, 191 

Charles Bion, 100 

John O., 227, 275 

Eliza L., 275 

Laura E., 241, 228 

Myrtie E., 236, 243 

William S., 265 

Hannah E., 227 



304 



INDEX OF NAME 8. 



Kimball, Samuel, 


35 


, 55, 256 


Lother, Edward, 73 


Henry, 




96, 98 




E. H., 73 


Russell, 


105, 


107, 109 




William, 73 


Elisha, 




238 


Lovejoy, Stephen, 43 


Amos, 




35 


Lougee, Rev. Samuel F., 131 


Chauncy, 




256 


Locke 


, Joseph S., 35 


Daniel, 




256 


Loundsbury, Nathaniel, 4, 284 


Mary, 




256 


Lufki 


n. Polly, 237 


King, Hiram, 


96. 


106, 172 


Lund, 


Ephraim, 9, 11, 16, 18, 22 


Rev. J. E., 




131 




Joseph, 9, 11, 18 


May, 




287 




Noadiah, 45 


Jane, 




275 




Rachel, 16 


Knapp, Arthur, 




103 




Silas, 16, 22 


Knight, Aaron, 36, 


37, 44 


, 45, 155 
165, 255 




Stephen, 18, 152 


Asa P., 




254 




M. 


Caleb, 




79, 255 






Catherine, 




89 


Mann 


, Amos C, 57, 58, 103, 114 


Ebenezer, 




250 




226 


Jeremiah, 




250 




Edward F., 57, 58, 231 


Joshua, 




48 




Edward F., 2d, 59,84,111 


Louisa, 




254 




184, 185, 188, 189 


Moses, 


25 


, 40, 153 
154, 254 




190, 199, 233, 267 
Ezra B., 59, 267 


Moses, Jr., 




44 




George W., 57, 58, 59, 83 


Morin, 




104 




106, 135, 140, 164 


Nancy R., 




89, 268 




167, 168. 169, 170 


Knowton, Philip, 




33 




172, 173, 174, 175 
177, 178, 179, 181 


L. 








182, 183, 185, 186 








187, 189, 190, 192 


Lane, Wade. 




119 




193, 194, 195, 196 


William, 




55 




197, 199, 200, 207 


Lathrop, John, 36, 56, 


106, 160 




232, 267, 276 




165, 


166. 167 




Grace, M., 243 




174, 


199, 238 




George Henry, 59, 60, 112 


Leavitt, Weare, 




36, 57 




140, 141, 267 


Leighton. A. H., 




73 




Hosea B., 60. 268 


Myra S., 




241 




James A., 57 58,68,232,239 


William, 




224, 241 




Jesse, 57, 58 


Leeds. Gideon, 




4, 284 




John 287 


Lindsay, Albert, 




190 




Lucy E., 240 


Isaac, 




120 




Matthew, 287 


Nelson B., 1 




274 




Moody, 57, 58 


Matilda K 


•1 


274 




Melvin J., 60. 118, 267 


Litchfield, Hosea, 




83 




Moses B., 60, 120, 192, 193 


Little, Harry, 




121 




194, 268 


Benjamin, 




161 




Moses W., 239 


William, 




278 




Minnie, 60, 121, 268 


Littlefield, Bert L., 




219 




Mary, 231 


Lockwood, Joseph, 




4,284 




Marion, 233 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



305 



Mann, Nathaniel, 287 


Marston, Orrin, 114, 


165, 225, 239 


Osman C, 59, 267 




Rhoda J., 


263 


Orman, L., 59, 60, 61, 117 




Samuel, 


9, 11, 14, 18 


123, 188, 189, 191 






19, 32 


192, 193, 195, 196 




Sarah J., 


226 


197, 198, 199, 267 




Sarah L., 


225, 263 


Richard, 287 




Stephen, 


105, 107, 108 


Samuel, 28, 35, 57, 61, 163 






114, 183 


231, 287 




Samuel E., 


107, 114, 178 


Samuel A., 57, 58, 98, 114 




181, 


184, 216, 225 


182, 212, 231 




Wesley B., 


109, 216, 263 


Sally Bailey, 231 




William C, 


25, 249 


Susan, 60, 268 


Martin, Ira, 


40, 237 


William, 36, 48 




Bailey, 


83 


Manson, Rev. A. C, 126 




Norman, 


190 


Marston, Bartlett, 27, 56, 78, 107 


Marden, Clifton S., 


102 


114, 162, 166, 171 




Stephen, 


116, 228, 244 


174, 175, 181, 182 




Willard M., 


122 


184, 225, 253, 263 




E. A., 


198, 199 


Bartlett, chil- 


McLeod, Kate, 


243 


dren of, 225 




George, 


273 


Castanus, 111, 126 


McGuinness, Ida, 


271 


David 24, 25, 27. 29 


McDuffie, John, 


11 


33, 145, 146, 147 


McConnell, Moses, 


90 


148, 151, 153, 154 


McLean, John, 


117 


Elvah S., 155, 156, 205 


Mas-ters, James H., 


19 


249, 263 


Marsh 


all, Sarah Ann, 


52 


George W., 263 




Abel, 


43 


Henry G., 263 


Matth 


ews, Hugh, 33, 36, 145 221 


Hosea M., 263 






250 


John, 22 




Mary, 


238, 250 


John Westley, 248 




Caroline, 


251 


John G., 26, 249 




David, 


251 


Jonathan, 24, 27, 29, 33 




Eliza S., 


251 


36, 148, 149, 153 




Hetty, 


251 


154, 156, 160, 161 




Lucinda, 


251 


168, 169. 252 




Mary J., 


250 


Jonathan Hale, 27, 96 




Sophronia 


, 251 


253 


Mead, 


Nathan, 


145, 146, 286 


Joseph E. 33, 148, 248 




Moses, 36, 3" 


r, 45, 156, 157 


Lucy, 25, 249 






161, 238 


Lucy M., 263 




Mary, 


238, 255 


Luvia E., 263 




William, 


33, 38, 149 


Laura A., 263 




Abigail, 


237 


Moody C, 25, 249 




Emleine, 


255 


May B., 263 




Warren, 


255 


Mary, 223 




Fanny, 


264 


Mehitabel, 25, 249 


Meader, Elisha, 


74, 233 


O. H., 82 




Betsey S., 


233 


Phebe, 4, 68 




PaulN.* 


269 


Orrin, 27, 36, 53, 54, 107 


Merri 


11, Asa, 


49, 74, 107 



306 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Merrill, Jeremiah, 

Jonathan, 85, 152, 

William, 

Mary E., 

Lydia, 228, 

Emily, 

Charles K., 36,55, 165, 
Mitchell, Martin L., 
Moody, Leonard, 105, 

Morrill, Samuel, 38, 90, 

Alfred, 118, 190, 193, 

W. H., 

Eben, 

Hannah, 
Morrison, Elder 128, 



Morse, William F., 
Edgar L., 
Hezekiah. 
Eliza A., 
Betsey J., 
Caleb, 
Caroline, 
Annette, 
Susan D., 
Morton. George, 
Moses, Ezra, 
Moulton, Michael, 
Jacob, 
Frank, 
Muir, Isabel, 
Mulliken, John. 

Nathaniel, 100, 101 

175, 176 

George, 100, 105 

Walter, 99, 101. 173 

Murdock, James, 

N. 

Newell, Charles S., 



70, 85, 100, 

122, 



100. 173, 
96, 



121, 138 
100, 101 



74 
153 
101 
224 
276 

81 
224 
270 
213 
151 
197 
189 
191 
222 
136 
168 
243 

93 
223 
223 
174 
272 

99 
206 

83 
244 

S8 

38 
194 
244 
107 
, 107 
216 
181 
,174 
243 



77 



Niles, Marinda. 
Millie, 
Myra, 
Sally, 
Salmon. 



Salmon, Jr.. 

Synthia, 
Nixon, Artemas, 
Norris, Abraham, 

Adaline, 
David M.. 

Helen, 
Harriet, 
Rev. H. S., 
James, 



247 

247 

247 

247 

18, 20, 32,33, 14-4 

145, 147, 148 

149, 205, 247 

247 

247 

8, 10 

24, 29, 33. 3:. 

151. 230. 240 

67, 242 

20, 71, 78, 107 

242, 249, 275 

71 

71 

269 

20, 68, 70. 107, 166 

107, 168, 173, 175 

176, 184, 186, 1S7 

213, 240. 27:. 

Joseph Dean. 89, 109, 240 

Rev. John, 120 

Martha. 70. 71, 230, 249, 275 



.Merrill 
Tolly. 
Betsey. 
NoyeB, Asa, 

Chester EL, 

Daniel, 

Rev. George C 

Mary, 

Jonathan. 

Mose6, 



70. 71. 240. 27:. 

230, 240 

240 

.V, 

266 

24. 20. 33 

131 

20. 258 

35, 48, 234 

9, 11, 18. 10 



Moses of Haverhill, 86, 233 
Nelson, 100, 224, 241 

Sally A., 94 

Samuel. 26 

Sarah Collins, 20 



iles, Anna, 






221, 237 


Nudd, Joseph, 105, 


106, 220 


Barnabas, 


9, 11, 


18 


, 32, 144 


Lucinda, 


220 




145, 


146, 147 


Nutter, W. Sims, 60, 121, 


194, 195 


Cyrus, 






247 




100 


Ezra, 






247 






Jesse, 






247 


0. 




Jehiel, 






0, 20 






Joseph, 






155, 247 


Oakes, Francis, 


30, 07 


Levi, 






247 


Frank. 67, 


108, 223 


Louisa, . 






247 


Harvey, 


67 


Mary, 






247 


Hollis, 


67 



IXDEX OF NAME 8. 



307 



Oakes. John E.. 


108, 181, 182 


Page 


Norman J.. 


121. 


193, 194 


Martha A.. 


223 






196, 


1-7. 271 


Nathan. 


1 




Raymond, 




93 


Philemon P.. 


" SB, 109 




Reuben. 




10. 15 




110. 216 




Samuel. 36. 40 


. 41. 


153. 154 


William. 


67 




155. 


157. 


163, 2S6 


Orcutt. Emma F.. 


206 




Samuel. Jr.. 
Samuel T. 
Submit. 




47 

42 

250 


P. 






William B.. US 


188 


192, 194 








195. 


199, 


241. 288 


Paj^e. BeDJamin, 


47 


Palmer. Abner. 




43 


Caleb. 


43. 44 156 




Joseph. 




48 


Daniel D.. 42, 43. 106. 143 




James. 




.". 


169. 


170. 171. 172 




Joseph F.. 




252 


174. 


177. 17-. 1TB 




Judith G. 




252 


180, 


181, 182, 1-3 




Marv. 




252 


186, 


187, 199, 296 




Sally W., 




252 


David. 42. 


168, .74. 199 


Park 


William R.. 




103 


Ernest T.. 


... B, 271 


Pait 


ti. Mrs. Ann. 




- U 


Eliza A.. 


42, 264 




Alantha, 




234 


Elizabeth R.. 


42. 201 - - 




Benjamin. 




166 


Ella Misselle. 


271 




Dora A.. 




104, 270 


Elvira. 


42 




Frank B.. 104 


.119 


241.270 


Emma. 


.- 




L. W.. 




102 


Frank. 






Lebina H.. 


103. 


104. 118 


George C. 


.- 




122, 


100, 


191. 192 


Harriet, 


2Bfl 




193. 


194. 


196. 197 


Harry E.. 


121 -- 




J, 198, 


200. 


2? -"- 


Herman. 


.- 




Mary. 




31 


James J.. 36. 42. 43. 45. 106 




Prescott. 




103. 106 


114. 


143, 156, 157 




Prescott. Jr.. 


103 


106. 179 


158, 


159. 160. 161 






1S1. 


1-5.15^ 


162, 


163, 16-5. 166 






1-7 


188,192 


167. 


168. 160, 171 






23-5 


- 


172. 


173. 175. 177 


Patch. ] 


.157 


158,23 


17-. 


200. 206. 214 




Joseph. 


152, 


153. 1-54 




- - .- 




W. D.. 




220 


James. 42. 43. 


106, 174. 175 


Pear= 


on. Joseph. 




10. 47 


17-. 17v. 


180, 181, 1-2 


Pelton. Joseph. 




122 


183. 186, 


:-- : 


Perk 


ns. Stephen. 




105 




284, .' 271 


Pierce. Barzilla, 




" 


John, 


106. Ill 




Rexford. 




- 


John S.. 


-- 


Pike 


Amos M.. 




115 


Joshua. 


t - 




Arthur L.. 




■-■ 


Joshua 2d. 109 


,183.1-7. 28fl 




Clifton. 




Ill' 


Laura. 


42, 264 




Lucinda, 




37 


Lavinia F.. 


264 




Nancy. 




106 


Lyman. 


90 




Samuel. 


83, i 


Mary. 


-- - - 




Walter F.. 102. 




174. 178 


Martha. 


A2 


Philbrick. William, 







308 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Phelps, A. L., 






120 


Royce, Lydia, 


85, 233 


Place, Joseph, 






102 


Merab, 


85, 269 


Jacob, 






170 


Polly, 


239 


Malinda, 






106 


Ruth, 


233 


Plant, Stephen. 






116 


Sarah, 


54, 85 


Pollard, Alexander, 






80 


Russell, John, 


98, 152 


Polley, Lydia E., 






69 


John, Jr., 


191 


W. H., 






264 






W. F., 






220 


s. 




Pool, Hiram, 






57 






Pope, Frank H., 






271 


Sabin, Rev. E. R.,' 


128 


Porter, Francis, 






19 


St. John, David, 


284 


Powers, Ann, 






234 


Sampson, William, 


98, 102 221 


Mary, 




79, 


234 


Mary, 


221 


Rev. Peter, 






20 


Sanborn, Hattie B., 


94 


Prescott, Rev. L. W., 






131 


Sargent, George, 


263 


William, 






20 


Savage, John, 
Sawyer, Lewis, 


178, 179 
165 


Q- 








Chas W., 
Carrie L., 


263 
242 


Quimby, David, 






47 


Scales, Hiram, 


112 


Emily, 


69, 


233, 


264 


Schofield, Ebenezer, 


4, 284 


Rev. S. E., 






132 


James, 


4, 284 


R. 








Sealey, Eliphalet, 


4. 283 








Eliphalet, Jr., 


4, 283 


Ramsdell. J. G., 




110, 


180 


Obadiah, 


4, 283 


Ramsden, Rev. Win., 






131 


Sylvanus, 


4, 283 


Ramsey, James, 






122 


Wix, 


4,283 


Randall, Samuel, 






88 


Scarle, Elizabeth. 


86 


Kichardson, David F., 


119, 


L38 


191 


Severance, W. R., 


244 




11)2 


193 


194 


Seymour, Thomas, Jr., 


4. L'S4 


Rev. Geo. 


W. 


108 


126 


Shaw, Ann R., 


241 


Fred M., 






120 


Fennette, 


272 


Harold, 






273 


Geo. E., 


274 


Horace F 






273 


Sheldon, John, 


120 


Moulton B., 




83 


Sherman, Stephen C, 


98, 99, 173 


Reuben, 






78 




211, 227 


Sarah, 






50 


James C, 


98. 99, 107 


Rogers, Rev. C. E., 






131 


Hannah, 


227 


Ezekiel, C, 






55 


Hitty, 


227 


Hugh R., 






251 


Siddons, William P., 


96.99 


James, 




38, 


238 


Eliza, 


97 


J. S., 






198 


Jane, 


97 


William, 


58, 


151, 


152 


Smith, Ara, 35 


47,48,114. 


Rollins, Joseph, 




3t 


>, 38 




160, L'L'.". 


Robert, 






38 


Rev. A. G., 


131 


Rodney, 






122 


Hezekiah, 


223 


Koyce, Samuel, 




85. 


233 


Nancy, 


223 


Hannah, 






85 


Margaret, 


225 


Dorcas, 






233 


Samuel, 


229 


Lucy, 


77 


, 85, 


264 


Phebe, 


55, 256 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



309 



Smith, Betsey, 


267 


Swift, 


Hetty, 




220 


William, 


175 










Mary F., 


223, 270 




T. 






Ephraim, 


4, 284 










Charles, 


4, 284 


Tarleton, Amos, 




156 


James, 


4, 284 


Taylor, Abraham, 




102 


Jesse, 


4. 284 




Margaret, 




42 


Snow, Ona, 


44 




Thomas E., 




103, 189 


Southard, Milton, 


36, 83, 239 


Temple, John, 




5 


Spafford, Senthe, 


237 




Lila M., 




243 


Spaulding, Daniel, 


103 


Thrasher, Henry, 




74 


Speed, John C, 


119, 230, 276 


Thurston, Lucy, 




96 


Spinney, Carrie A., 


229 


Tibbetts, De Elden, 


101 


117, 197 


Spooner, Alonzo, 


101, 103, 186 




Veronia, D., 


244 




187, 190, 244 




William, 




116, 186 


Chester, 


101, 106 








189, 193 


Daniel, 


101, 105, 243 


Tillotson, John W., 




10 


Clarence, 


193, 243 


Titus, 


Jason, 




262 


Horace R., 


101, 190, 193 




Bertha May, 




263 




194, 242 




C. Harvey, 




263 


Carl Gile, 


273 




Herman, 




263 


Oscar 


101, 244 




Holman D., 




263 


William. 


101, 108 




Fred M., 




263 


Mary J.. 


275 




George W., 




263 


Sprague, Alden, 


10 




Jeremy, 




106 


Stacy, Thomas. 


111 




Theron W., 




263 


Starkweather, Joseph, 17 


Torsey, Moses, 


234, 235 


Stevens, John L., 


112, 120, 183 




Moses Jr., 




53 


Abner, 


4, 283 




Winthrop G 


, 36, 38, 39, 49 


Alice R., 


220 






62, 


107, 114 


Daniel, 


4, 283 






162, 


163, 166 


Obadiah, 


4, 283 






167, 


168, 169 


Obadiah, Jr. 


, 4, 283 






170, 


212, 235 


Stickney, Ansel, 


95, 106 








238 


Jonathan B 


., 95, 106, 171 




William T., 


39, 92, 107 


174, 


175, 177, 178 






175, 


176, 178 


Mary, 


238 






179, 


180, 181 


Stowe, John, 36, 54, 55, 160, 163 






182, 


183, 184 


165, 


168, 169, 231 






186, 


187, 188 


John, Jr., 


36. 55, 57, 81 






189, 


191, 192 


Geo. Henry, 


274 






235, 


270, 275 


Nathan, 


55, 96, 257 




Amos G., 


96, 


172, 174 


Nathaniel, 55 


, 96, 174, 257 








175, 270 


Sarah, 


257 




Mary, 




39, 239 


Sally, 


232 




Betsey, 


39 


238, 256 


W. C, 55, 


169, 170. 176 




Sally, 


39 


235, 238 


Streeter, Sally, 


29, 228, 253 




Emerline, 




39, 270 


Styles, Moody, 


102 




Hannah, 




276 


Swain, William, 


104 




Theodosia, 




235, 238 


Swasey, Parker, 


98, 269 




Irene, 




235 


Swift, Curtis, 


220 


Trefren, Thomas, 




45 



310 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Trefren, James, 
Orrin, 
Amy, 
David M., 
Gilman, 

True, John H., 

Edward, M., 

M. W., 
C. E. 
Nella J., 
John A., 
V T 

Wilbur F., 
Olive, A. R., 
Tyler, Kimball 



252 
252 
252 
252 
252 
182, 183 
111, 112, 183 
189 
184, 187, 188 
116, 186 
272 
111, 112 
116 
118 
117 
24, 28, 29, 33, 35 
150, 153, 154, 155 
L68, 171, 228, 253 
Jesse, 24. 28, 29, 33, 149 

Elisha, 28, 36, 152, 157, 160 
Samuel, 49, 162 

Amos, 49 

Kimball, Jr., 53. 54, 253 



Alfred, 

Isaac H., 
Laban, 
Moses K., 
Edwin, 



James B., 
George, 
Charles C. 



79, 161, 228 

248, 254 

79, 213, 248 

81, 254 

81, 254 

35, 87, 161, 229 

239, 254 



97, 98, 107, 254 

107, 114, 115 

174, 184, 229, 241 

254, 268 

Fred M., 115, 117, 123, 228 

229, 268, 269 
Byron M., 115, 120, 123, 196 

198, 229, 241 , 268 
Alfred E., 115, 118, 123, 198 

230, 243, 268 
Leblie, 115, 120, 268 
Carroll, 115, 121, 244, 268 
Charles W., 115,121,268 
Charles C. ,2nd, 117, 123 
Jesse, 2nd, 119,251,274 
Humphrey P., 36, 165, 166 
Betsey, 238, 240, 254 
Hepzibath, 38, 238 
Theodosia, 238 
Sally, 82, 239, 254 



Tyler, Lucy, 


240 


253, 274 


Mary, 115 


242 


251, 268 


Lydia. 




251 


May J., 




251 


Relief 




250 


Susan K.. 




51. 254 


Kliza, 




254 


Lucetta. 




93, 254 


Harriet, 




80, 263 


Lucetta S., 




115, 268 


Hannah, 




114, 268 


Dexter, 




268 


Estelle, 




243, 260 


Charlina C, 




243, 269 


Edna W., 




244. 269 


Louis F., 




269 


Laura E., 




275 


Carrie S., 




276 


Tyrell (or Tirrell), Ben- 




jamin H., 104, 


176, 


177, 184 


186, 


187. 


188, 189 
190, 199 


Marcellus, 




112 


Frank, 




117 


Cleveland, 




118 


( ieorge, 




214 


Elizabeth, 




105 


V. 






Veazey, Charles A., 


112, 


189, 190 




191, 


192, 195 


Jennie F., 




244, 246 


Ruth J., 




89, 138 


William D., 


113, 


121, 196 
200, 246 


W. 






Wallace, John, 


121, 


236, 243 


Myrtie, 




276 


Warren, Ashael L., 


18, 


108, 179 


180, 


181, 


184, 186 




188, 


189, 190 


Benj. F., 




108 


Hattie E., 




241 


Warner, Rev. Greenleaf, P., 






136 


Watson, Pelatiah, 




11, 16 


Waterman, Sewall, 




89, 16s 


Waterbury, Nathaniel, 


4, 285 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



311 



Waterbury, .Tosiah, 


4, 285 


Webber, Joseph, 


74 


John, 


90 


Mary Ann, 


240 


Horace, 


126 


Nathaniel, 


10 


Webster, Stephen P., 


10, 15 


Weed, Amos, 


4, 284 


Benjamin, 


4, 284 


Peter, 


4, 284 


Hezekiah, 


4, 284 


Abraham, 


4, 284 


Sylvanus, 


4, 284 


Ruth, 


55 


Julia, 


55 


Nathaniel, 


4, 284 


Samuel, 


4, 284 


Isaac, 


4, 384 


Reuben, 


4. 284 


Enos. 


4. 2S4 


Wilson. 


90 


Weeks, Daniel. 


55, 57 


Henry E., 


120 



Welch, Jonathan. 10. 36, 43. 44 

156, Iti2. 163. 169 

250. 285 

Silas M., 19. 44. 90. 10(5 

173. 174. 176, 178 

220. 251 

George. 44. 118, 123 

Bartlett, 19. 44, 96, 106 

175. 178, 220. 251 

Edgar S., 44, 120, 190, 191 

192, 193 

Louisa J., 220 

Nancy. 220 

Franklin, 220 

Alice R., 220 

Ruth, 221 

Weld, E. P., 120 

W. H., 109 

Welsh, Moses. 211 

Wells, Enos, 35, 40, 107, 129. 143 

153. 154. 155, 156, 157 

158, 159, 102, 167, 169 

170, 171, 172, 173, 174 

199, 212, 224, 257 

" Caleb. 41, 92, 107, 171, 172 

173, 174, 175, 176, 177 

179, 180, 181. 182, 199 

214, 215, 257, 271 



Wells, George, 41, 96. 107, 171, 174 

175, 176, 178, 179, 180 

181, 216, 257, 272 

Enos C, 41, 98, 107, 172 

174, 257 

Fayette, 49, 225 

Lois, 224 

Sally C, 224 

Polly, 45, 223 

Helen A., 271 

Ella G.. 271 

Herbert E.. 271 

Scott, 271 

Addie Bell, 271 

Albinus M., 272 

Stella V., 272 

Flavius M., 272 

Frank E.. 272 

Arthur G., 272 

Fred P.. 272 

Fred P., of Newbury, 21 

Wentworth. Mark H., 5 

Whitcher, Chase, 12, 26, 128. 222 

260, 261 

Chase. Jr., 3fi. 151, 165 

23S. 261 

Chase 2nd, S3, 84, 85 

107. 138. 168 

170. 171, 172 

173, 174. 175 

177, 178, 179 

180, 181. 182 

183, 184, 199 

214, 215, 258 

William, 24. 26, 30, 33 

35. 128, 143. 148 

149, 151. 152, 153 

155, 156, 157, 161 

162, 166, 167, 168 

169, 170, 175, 199 

200, 212, 233, 259 

260. 261 

Moses, 35. 37, 53, 54 

160, 161, 162, 163 

165, 166, 167, 179 

253, 258 

William Jr., 35, 37, 53 

54, 233, 238 

Amos, 35, 57, 63, 64, 65 

107, 114, 137, 138 

162, 170, 173, 178, 179 



312 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



Whitcher, Amos, 186, 188, 199, 212 
Obadiah, 31, 33 

Jacob, 35, 49, 50, 1(50 

161, 211, 232 
239 261 

David, 35, 55, 159, 160 

256, 261 

Samuel, 68, 69, 165 

166, 233, 258, 264 

Hazen, 50, 82, 161 

162, 163, 165 
166, 167, 239 

Ira, 14. 26, 74, 75, 76 

77, 107, 114, 138, 163 

165, 166, 167, 169 

170, 171, 172, 173 

174, 176, 177, 178 

179, 180, 181, 182 

183, 199, 200, 213 

214 ,215, 258, 264 

Daniel, 90, 91, 92,^107 

171, 174, 175 

176, 200, 258 

268 

Charles H., 63,109, 140 

180, 181, 182 

184, 185, 262 

Winthrop C, 258, 262 

Winthrop 

C, 2d, 63, 111, 114 
128, 140 
182, 262 
James E., 63, 112, 183 
185, 2(52 
Albion G., 68, 11(5. 2(52 
David S.. (59, 234, 264 
Daniel, J., 69,262,264 
Charles O., 69, 264 

William F., 77, 78, 111 
264 
Frank, 77, 264 

Scott, 77, 264 

David, 2d, 94, 258 

Henry, 108, 262 

James, 258 

Louisa, 235, 245, 258 
Sally, 258 

Hannah, 58, 239 258 
Mary, 258 

Susan, 59, 232, 258 

Phebe, 258 



Whitcher, Levi, 


261 


Stephen, 


261 


Alonzo, 


261 


Jacob, 2d, 


261 


Lucinda C., 


63, 262 


Amarett A., 


63, 262 


Florence V., 


262 


Moses, 2d, 


262 


Ward P., 


262 


Phebe, 


262 


Jean, 


2(52 


Frank P., 


262 


Chase R., 


262 


Charles C., 


262 


John W., 


262 


Mercy, 


262 


Lydia E., 


264 


Betsey S.. 


264 



Susan E. 116, 234, 2(54 

Lucinda, 54, 103 

Sarah Ft., 82, 239 

Hannah Morrill, 222 

Mary Green, 222 

David M.. 256 

Daniel B., 256 

Joseph, 256 

Burr R., 264 

Kate K., 268 

Moses K., 268 

Nellie G., 2(58 

Lizzie R., 268 

Carrie Ardelle, -'tis 

Josie L., 268 

Ira D.. 268 

Mary B., 268 

Dan Scott, 268 

Dolly, 44 

Sarah Jane, 50 

Sarah Royce, 84, 233 

Frances C, 84, 233 

Elvah G., 59. 84 

Wheeler, Sylvester, 190 

George, E., 272 

White, Emery B., (53, 102 

Jacob M., 102 

John, 102 

Edwin, 102 

Charles, 102 

George E., 118 

Laura, 102, 248 

Ann, 102 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



313 



White Mary, 102 

Susan, 102 

Whiteman, Joseph, 88 

Nicholas, 88 

Henry M., Ill 

Frank, 116 

Lester, 273 

Angeline, 56, 265 

Mary E., 242 

Whittom, Kobert, 11, 19 

Whittier, Jacob, 23 

Thomas, 26 

Thomas and direct 

descendants, 259, 260 

John Greenleaf. 26 



Nathaniel, 
Keuben, 
Joseph, 
Willard, Caleb, 

Austin, 
Willey, Nathan, 
Wilmot, Timothy, 
Henry C., 
Frank, 
Willoughby, Abner, 
Wiser, Benjamin, 
Wilson, Elijah, 
Amos, 



Daniel, 
George, 
Arthur, 
John, 
George E., 
Susan M., 
Alice S., 
Alexander, 
Mary, 
Winchester, Ezra, 



26 
26 
26 
7, 9, 11, 19 
112 
39, 153 
57 
269 
266 
33, 151 
23 
29 
93, 171, 173 
180, 183, 207 
93, 106, 107 
105, 107, 180, 263 
108, 182 



227, 275 
121, 228 
93 
94 
273 
110 
104, 182, 186 



Chas. W., 109 

Winslow, Rev. John, 132 

Woodbury, Benjamin, 54, 149 

Woodward, Deliverance, 36, 37, 57 
159, 160 





161, 199 


Amos, 


100 


George W., 


100 


Hiram, 


100 


Solon, 


163, 165 


Wright, Abijah, 


68, 220 


Alvah C., 68, 


165, 223 



Wright, Gilbert P., 68, 74, 107 

114, 166, 171, 172 

173, 174, 176, 177 

178, 179, 182, 186 

212, 253, 289 

David L., 68, 112. 184 

185, 220, 290 

Newell C, 68, 116, 290 

Hannah, 221 

Gilbert P., Jr., 116, 186 

290 

Aseneth, 240 

Russell W., 290 

Ellen H., 290 

Jonathan M., 290 

Phebe A., 290 

Mary, 290 

Charles W., 290 

Ira B., 290 

William R., 290 

Wyman, Isaac, 83 

Y. 

Young, Augustus, 256 

David, 49 

./ David, Jr., 57. 256 

Eunice, 232 

Joseph, 211, 232 

Polly, 63 

Sam C, 256 

William C, 63 



1 



